Militant module busted, kingpin held in J&K

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed to have busted a militant module in Srinagar with the arrest of its kingpin and recovery of arms and ammunition. Omar Zargar was arrested from the old city, locally known as downtown, a fortnight ago after investigations revealed that he was trying to revive militancy in the city, official sources said on Sunday.

Zargar was detained by police at the height of summer unrest in 2010 after having obtained clinching evidences of his involvement in stone-pelting incidents but had been later let-off.

He then fled the valley and had gone abroad. He returned recently after he was assured by his accomplices that the situation had eased out, they said.

One pistol and a wireless set have been recovered from his possession, they said. Based on information obtained from him during questioning, police expect more arrests and recovery of arms and ammunition in the coming days.

Zargar was trying to motivate youths, most of them who were stone-pelters, to join the ranks of militancy and had promised them weapons and money in abundance, the sources said.

Meanwhile, investigators are trying to ascertain whether he was involved in the attack on Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar in Nawab Bazaar area of the city in December last year.

A personal security guard of the minister was killed while four others, including a civilian, were injured in the attack but Sagar had escaped unhurt.

Although police is tight-lipped about his arrest, the sources said a press conference will be held within couple of days to give details of the operation.

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