The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in collaboration with Army and the CRPF dismantled a terror module operating in the Bandipora district of North Kashmir.
Acting swiftly on a specific intelligence, Jammu and Kashmir Police established a checkpoint in the Dardgund area of the district on August 25. During this operation, the police apprehended a suspicious individual who attempted to evade capture. The detainee, identified as Shafayat Zubair Rishi from Nesbal Sumbal, was found in possession of incriminating evidence including a pistol, a pistol magazine, eight rounds of ammunition, and other materials, the officials said.
“Pertinently, the accused was in touch with Pak based terror handler Mushtaq Ahmad Mir who exfiltrated to Pak in 1999 and was working on revival of terrorists in the district. He was also involved in the year 2000 Kothibagh IED blast in which 14 people including 12 police personnel were killed and had remained associated with proscribed militant outfit HM and later on with militant outfit Al-badr. Shafayat Zubair Rishi is also involved in burning an Army vehicle in Sumbal in 2009 and is out on bail in the said case,” the police spokesman said.
His interrogation revealed that he was en route to meeting with Munira Begum, the wife of a deceased terrorist and former area commander Yousuf Choupan. The aim was to collect a cache of arms and ammunition. Munira Begum, in turn, led the security personnel to a forested area nearby, where a significant cache of arms and ammunition was concealed. This cache included a Krinkov AK-47 rifle, three magazines, ninety rounds of ammunition, and a pen pistol. Incidentally, Munira Begum had also traveled to Pakistan on two occasions, according to police.
Further revelations from Rishi highlighted his involvement in a plot to receive 47 lakhs for the purpose of reviving terrorist activities in the region. The plan involved disbursing this money as directed by his handler, Mushtaq Mir, to support terrorism.
