J&K police arrests Hizbul militant

Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant, who had attempt to repeat Pulwama like fidayeen (suicide) attack on para-military CRPF convoy near Banihal on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on March 30.

“Security forces were maintaining high alert all along the National Highway after the failed attempt of the militants to repeat Pulwama like attack. The militant appeared on the highway late Sunday evening and took lift in a tipper on way to Kashmir,” state police chief Dilbagh Singh told reporters.

However, he said, police apprehended him after spotting burn marks over his body as there had been reports that the militant had sustained minor burn injuries in the blast before fleeing from the spot.

Police identified him as Owais Amin, son of Mohammad Amin Rather, a resident of Vehil, Chatta Waran in Shopian district of South Kashmir. Singh confirmed that it was a fidayeen attack on the para-military convoy.

The police chief said a total of two blasts were planted in the car and when the first blast took place, the militant sustained minor injuries and ran away. “The first blast was minor and the second didn’t occur as the LPG cylinders and IED didn’t explode,” he said.

A CRPF vehicle suffered slight damage when a private car exploded after one of its gas cylinders caught fire on the highway on Saturday. The incident triggered memories of the February 14 vehicle-borne suicide attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Pulwama that claimed the lives of 40 personnel.

Sources said after the arrest of Owais, the probe may soon be handed over to NIA, which is also probing the February 14 Pulwama attack. Police said the car contained explosive and inflammable substances including more than 50 gelatin sticks (Super power 90), urea, sulphur, ammonium nitrate, two bottles petrol, two LPG cylinders and one live fabricated IED in a tiffin carrier.