Four Al-Badr ultras, 3 associates arrested in north Kashmir

Srinagar: Security forces busted an Al-Badr terrorist module and captured four members of the Pakistan-backed banned outfit and three of their associates in Rafiabad tehsil of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday.
A combined team of J&K police, 32 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF’s 92Bn rounded up three Al-Badr men at Rawoocha village of Rafiabad following specific information that the outfit was planning attacks in Sopore and several more places.Weapons and ammunition were seized from them.
These three— identified as Waris Tantray of Rawoocha, Amir Sultan Wani of Nowpora, Sopore, and Tariq Ahmed Bhat of Chontipora, Handwara—reportedly told police that they have been with Al-Badr for the past two years. An officer said they were following instructions from two handlers: a Pakistani and an Anantnag man currently in Pakistan.
The trio gave away the position of another Al-Badr member and the forces arrested Ashraf Nazir Bhat along with three associates: Mohammad Ashraf Malik of Drungsoo, Mohammad Afzal Thokar of Kalamabad Mawar, Handwara, and Shabir Ahmed Shah of Sherhama Mawar, Handwara.
A police spokesperson said “arms and ammunition, a huge amount of cash, and other war-like material” were seized from them. The terrorists were doing their Pakistani handlers’ bidding to revive terrorism in Rafiabad and Sopore, recruit members for Al-Badr and help them with weapons and logistics, an officer said. Pakistan’s spy agency ISI formed the Kashmir-based Al-Badr outfit in 1988.