Srinagar, Mar 26 (NVI): Counter Intelligence Kashmir has unearthed a cross-border terror recruitment network and arrested a key associate following coordinated searches across multiple districts of Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.
Searches were conducted at 10 locations in Srinagar, Shopian and Ganderbal districts in connection with a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at a CIK police station, they said.
Investigations revealed that the module was being handled by a Pakistan-based operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba, identified as Shabir Ahmad Lone, a resident of Kangan in Ganderbal district. He is believed to be operating from Bangladesh and coordinating recruitment and logistical support through a network of over-ground workers and associates.
Officials said Lone, who uses multiple aliases, had undergone arms training in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and has been involved in terror-related activities for years. He had earlier infiltrated into India via the Bangladesh border and later exfiltrated, continuing operations from abroad.
In a related development, CIK had earlier arrested Irfan Ahmad Wani (45) from Heerpura in Shopian, who was allegedly in contact with Lone and other handlers through encrypted messaging platforms. He is suspected to have facilitated recruitment, radicalisation and logistics at the local level.
During the searches, security forces seized digital devices, SIM cards, mobile phones, laptops and documents linked to the investigation.
Officials said the probe is ongoing to identify and take action against all individuals involved in the network, both within Jammu and Kashmir and outside the country.(NVI)
