Top LeT commander arrested in Kashmir

In a major blow to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit, the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested its top commander from Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Sunday evening.

The police identified the apprehended militant commander as Abu Ukasha alias Hanzullah of Pakistan.

Sources said Hanzullah, who had infiltrated into Kashmir in November or December last year, was arrested in Sogam town of Kupwara when he was purchasing eatables from a market.

One grenade and Rs 38,000 cash were recovered from the possession of the militant commander, who was mostly operating form Handwara and Lolab forests.

Big jolt to LeT
A senior police officer termed the arrest of Hanzullah as a big jolt to LeT and major achievement for security forces.

“He (Ukasha) is being questioned for information about the militant network in north Kashmir. In 2013, after the disclosures made by arrested Pakistani commander Fahadullah in volatile Sopore town, the police were able to break the back of militancy in the town. We expect a similar breakthrough this time also,” he claimed.

“Ukasha had come under the radar of security agencies in the last few months after one of his close associates came in the security net. Security agencies were keeping a watch on his activities and apprehended him only after they got all the details about the network he was operating in North Kashmir,” the officer revealed.
Sources said immediately after Ukasha’s arrest, security forces launched a search operation in the nearby forests to track down other militants of the group.
The search operation was on when reports last came in.