Terrorists caught in Doon, but...

Even as two top Hizbul Mujahideen operators have been arrested on eve on passing out parade of IMA, city police urge people to be extra cautious about strangers:

Anjali Nauriyal

Acting proactively, the Uttarakhand police allegedly nabbed a top Hizbul Mujahideen Divisional Commander carrying Rs 2.5 lakh reward on his head, along with his aide on the eve of the IMA Passing Out Parade, reviewed by none other than the highest Indian military dignitary, the Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh.

The two were carrying live ammunition along with a foreign-made pistol. It is not clear whether the duo had planned any disruption of the POP. The two have been remanded to police custody.

The police made no formal announcement on the first day and tried to keep the news within wraps, but within hours of the successful culmination of the POP, SSP G.S. Martolia, held a press conference at which he presented the terrorist Gulam Nabi Sheikh, alias Javed Kureshi (33), native of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, and his associate Tanvir (21), also from Doda, who had been residing in a rented accommodation in Doon's Patel Nagar area.

Gulam Nabi told the media that he had come to Doon on December 2 for treatment of his leg injury. He admitted that he had been given arms and ammunition guidance in Pakistan and had maintained links with terrorists there while being involved with Hizbul Mujahideen terror activities particularly in the Doda district.

He, however, contradicted the charge that he had come to the city with the aim of causing any terrorist disruption. The SSP asserted that the police had been extra vigilant days before the POP. The Police had been forewarned by central intelligence agencies and acting on a tip-off had escalated the combing drive in all adjoining villages, rental accommodations, hotels, etc.

A joint STF, SOG and local police team led by in-charge, Sadar, Manikant Mishra grilled the duo during which Gulam Nabi acknowledged his complicity in several heinous crimes. The police team that arrested the duo was led by Inspector, STF, B.S. Bhakuni, SI, STF, R.B. Chamola, SHO, Clement Town, Mahesh Chand and In-charge, SOG, Mukesh Tyagi.

It was revealed that between 1998 and 2008, as many as 14 cases were registered against him relating to dacoity, murder, attempt to murder and possession of illegal weapons.

As per police records, he planted an IED on Army/STF at Marmot Doda in 1998 in which many people were injured; exchanged fire with Army at Marmot Road in 1999 in which he was injured; ambushed STF in 2000 at Vasantgarh killing two and injuring many; and planted IED in Manguata killing Army CO and one soldier in 2002.

After few years of hibernation, he became active again in 2006 in Doda. No criminal record of Tanveer has been ascertained. He has been coming to Dehradun for some years now and was even employed with BSNL for some time. But it is alleged that he has been harbouring terrorists along with his family.

Martolia informed that more information on the two is being gathered from the Jammu and Kashmir police. According to the SSP, winter is the time when there is possibility of many terrorists masquerading as carpet sellers entering the city. He assured that the police had been keeping a vigilant eye on dubious characters. He urged the Doonites to be extra cautious about strangers.