When questioned, the suspect said he was on his way to the widow of a terrorist killed to collect a stash of weapons and ammo.
Srinagar, August 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Police stated on Saturday that attempts to resurrect terrorism were effectively thwarted by the earlier this week arrest of a “hybrid terrorist” in the Pethpora neighbourhood of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
A police official issued a statement in which he claimed that “Police, 26 Assam Rifles, and 3rd BN CRPF busted a terror module in North Kashmir’s Bandipora and successfully foiled the nefarious designs of Pak-based terror handlers in reviving the terrorists in the district.”
Giving specifics, he added that on August 25, a checkpoint was set up by the joint party in the Dardgund region, within the authority of PS Pethkoot, based on information specifically provided by J&K police concerning the movement of a hybrid terrorist.
“At the checkpoint, a suspicious individual who saw the combined party attempted to run but was skillfully captured. During the search, a firearm, a magazine, eight rounds, and other incriminating items were found in his hands. Shafayat Zubair Rishi of Nesbal Sumbal has been recognised as the man, he claimed.
According to the spokesperson, the suspect revealed during interrogation that he was headed to the Pazalpora region to pick up a stockpile of weapons and ammunition from a woman known as Munira Begum, the widow of the terrorist and murdered area commander Yousuf Choupan.
He said the defendant was in contact with Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, a terror handler who fled to Pakistan in 1999 and is now seeking to resurrect militants in the area.
He was also implicated in the IED explosion in Kothibagh in 2000, which killed 14 people, including 12 police officers, and he continued to be linked to the terrorist group HM before eventually joining Al-Badr. Shafayat Zubair Rishi, who is free on bail in the aforementioned case, was also engaged in the 2009 burning of an Army vehicle in Sumbal, the official said.
Additionally, after Munira Begum’s revelation, a stockpile of weapons and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle made by Krinkov, three magazines, and 90 rounds, as well as a pen pistol intended for Shafait Reshi, were found in a nearby woodland. When questioned, it was discovered that Munira had visited Pakistan twice as well.
Shafayat Rishi also acknowledged that he was set to collect 47 lakhs for the resuscitation of terrorists. Later, this money was to be sent to someone in accordance with his cross handler Mushtaq Ah Mir’s requirements and instructions.
He said that a case had been filed in accordance with the relevant legal provisions and that further investigation was ongoing.
