Three hardcore militants arrested in Kashmir

25 October 2001
The Indian Express

Srinagar: With the arrest of three top militants, including a self-styled battalion commander of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen outfit, security forces claimed to have foiled an attempt by the Pakistan-based outfit to ''revive'' its activities in Kashmir, a top BSF official said on Thursday. The militants - ''battalion commander'' Sohail Ahmad Baba alias Zahid, ''district commander'' Mohammad Ashr Rather alias Abu Katada, both residents of Srinagar, and Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh alias Nazir of Burgoo village in Badgam district, BSF Dig R.S. Bhullar said. They were arrested from Daulatabad locality in Srinagar following a tip-off, he said adding a wireless set, a grenade and some ammunitions were recovered from them. The militants had recently infiltrated into the Valley from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) through Kupwara sector with the directive to set up bases, recruit local youths and carry out attacks on the security forces, Bhullar said. Tehreek, was one of the active militant outfits in the Valley during the early stages of militancy. However, the outfit was almost wiped out with the killing of its top leadership and arrest of others in the mid-1990''s, he added.