SSB arrests Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist from Indo-Nepal border

Naseer Ahmed (34), who hails from Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir, was apprehended by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Sanauli in Uttar Pradesh at around 5:15 PM on Saturday.

"He was trying to sneak into India from Nepal in disguise of a Kashmiri shawl and carpet vendor. When he was asked for his identity by the personnel's of SSB at Sanauli, he was unable to produce any supporting documents," an SSB spokesperson said.

Following this, a physical search was conducted and it yielded a Pakistani passport and identity card having a Pakistani address.

"He was involved in many violent attacks against civilians and Security Forces including an attack on the STF Camp. He was sent to India by his handler, for a specific mission," the spokesperson said.

Ahmed had landed in Kathmandu from Pakistan's Faislabad via Sharjah on May 10 along with one Mohd Shafi. Shafi did not accompany him as Ahmed boarded a bus to reach the Indo-Nepal border.

The spokesperson said Ahmed was in touch with a handler in India, who used to deposit money in his account.

"He was trained to operate weapons namely AK-47, AK-56, SLR, Rocket Launcher (RPG7), Assault Rifle (G3 and G2), grenades, etc. After completion of training, he stayed at various Hizbul camps in Abbotabad between 2004-2006 and Manshera (2006-09). He said that he used to preach Quran to HuM cadres during his stay at various camps," the SSB spokesperson said.

According to security officials, he was involved in terrorist activities in Banihal area of Ramban since 2002. The next year, he crossed over to Pakistan in a group of 23 persons.

In Pakistan, he received physical and arms training between November 2003 and January 2004 in Atak area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He was trained by the terrorists and ISI officials, they said. He also married a Pakistani national in November 2009 and the couple have two sons. He also started a hosiery business in Gujrat district of Pakistan.

Prior to his crossing over to Pakistan, he was involved in a number of terrorist activities. Ahmed, who was gunman of the then district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, is alleged to be a member of the team, which executed mine attacks during election in 2002 in Banihal killing of two civilians and two army personnel.