Security forces arrest two PoK nationals

Less than a week after the Uri attack, security forces arrested two PoK nationals who were guiding Jaish-e-Mohammad militants to infiltrate the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of north Kashmir. A defence spokesperson said in a joint operation by the army and BSF, two Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) nationals were apprehended on September 21. “During the investigation, the arrested persons revealed their identities as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, son of Mohammad Kursheed of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, son of Gul Akbar of Pottha Jahangir, both in PoK,” he said.

The spokesperson claimed that the duo was recruited two years ago by Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit to guide militants to infiltrate the LoC. “The details provided by them are being examined and corroborated by agencies concerned,” he added.

At least 18 soldiers were killed and 19 others injured when four fidayeen (suicide) militants attacked army’s 12-Brigade headquarters in Uri. Sources said the interrogation of the two PoK nationals is on and there is possibility of more arrests in the coming days. “The National Investigating Agency (NIA), which is probing the Uri attack, could also question the arrested PoK nationals,” they said.

Meanwhile, the NIA has so far recorded the statements of at least three senior army officers and five soldiers. “The statements were recorded after proper permission from the army. The army officials explained the circumstances to NIA team in which the attack took place,” a senior police official privy to the probe told DH.

“The NIA officials have also obtained the mobile traffic data of the day before the attack took place. Investigations into mobile traffic data are on,” he added. This is the first investigation to be carried out by NIA in Kashmir of a militant attack. Earlier, they had investigated attack on a BSF convoy at Udhampur in Jammu last year that led to arrest and dismantling of Lashkar-e-Toiba network in south Kashmir.