Two JeM men held, cops say they were behind Baramulla attack

Police said the arrests were made from different parts of Baramulla town after a joint operation by the police and Army. These are the first major militant arrests in Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.

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Baramulla SSP Imitiaz Hussain Mir said the arrested militants were part of the Jaish module in Barbarella town. “These militants were part of a module headed by Pakistani militant Khilad.” Mir said the module, along with the arrested duo, carried out attacks on a joint convoy of the Army and police on August 15 at Khawaja Bagh in which three security personnel were killed. “An AK rifle and a pistol were recovered from them. Further investigation is on.”

The militants had also tried to sneak into the battalion headquarters of the Rashtriya Rifles in Baramulla this month but had failed to breach the camp perimeters, police said.

The JeM managed to establish a module in Baramulla and adjacent areas this year, police said. Police had earlier claimed to have arrested two foreign JeM militants from Kanispora and Hajibal areas of Baramulla.

Anti-militancy operations have been affected due to protests in the Valley. The Police, CRPF and Army carried out two major crackdowns this week in Baramulla town and carried out door-to-door searches.