Nagrota Encounter: Pulwama suicide bomber's cousin amongst 3 arrested while security forces kill 3 terrorists
The man who was driving the three terrorists is a cousin of the suicide bomber who killed 40 CRPF personnel in a deadly attack last year in Pulwama.
The security forces on Friday gunned down three suspected Jaish terrorists and arrested three overground workers after an encounter at a toll plaza on Jammu-Srinagar highway.
The CRPF personnel gunned down the terrorists when they intercepted a truck ferrying them to Srinagar. The truck was stopped for a regular inspection at the toll plaza at Jammu-Srinagar highway when an alert cop spotted a cavity made in the loaded truck to hide terrorists. When the cops opened the cavity, the terrorists opened fire, injuring one policeman.
During the shoot out, one terrorist was killed while five fled to the nearby forested area. In the subsequent encounter, two terrorists were killed and the three overground workers - a driver and two helpers - were arrested by the police.
Police said the terrorist group is suspected to have infiltrated from along the International Border (IB) in Kathua district to carry out an attack.
"The terrorists were headed to Kashmir, probably as a replacement for the top leadership of Jaish including its chief Qari Yasir killed by security forces last month," he said. "It was a group of militants that had recently infiltrated from International Border in Jammu."
The police have also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including wireless sets and US-made M4 carbine.
Man ferrying terrorists is Pulwama suicide bomber's cousin
The man who was driving the three terrorists is a cousin of the suicide bomber who killed 40 CRPF personnel in a deadly attack last year in Pulwama.
Sameer Ahmed Dar, Pulwama suicide bomber Adil Ahmed Dar's cousin, was arrested from the site of the encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police.
"The driver Sameer Ahmed Dar is resident of Pulwama district of South Kashmir. He is the first cousin of Adil Dar," DG Police Dilbagh Singh said. Sameer has reportedly done Masters in geology from Kashmir university.
The incident comes days before the Pulwama attack anniversary on February 14. A year ago, Sameer Dar's cousin Adil Dar had rammed his explosive-laden Maruti Eeco car into a CRPF bus, killing 40 personnel on board.
"CRPF personnel did a brilliant job in the encounter. In a sense that they were hit hard by Pulwama attack and today their efforts led to successful encounter and catching of big module," a top officer in security grid said.
While NIA is finding it difficult to establish a live link to Pakistan, the arrest could be a huge boost for security forces and investigating agency in Kashmir Valley.