Delhi blast: SIA arrests man in Srinagar connected with white collar terror module as probe intensifies
J&K authorities have intensified a terror module probe, arresting a suspect in Srinagar linked to a "white-collar" case. This follows the Delhi blast investigation and recovery of explosives. Checks in hospitals revealed arms in doctors' lockers.
New Delhi: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday arrested a man in Srinagar, who is reportedly connected with the "white collar" terror module case, according to news agency PTI. This comes as part of the Jammu and Kashmir authorities' intense searches across hospitals and media offices as law enforcement agencies have widened their probe into the Delhi blast, which took place near the Red Fort metro station on November 10.
The intense probe to bust terror module
Earlier, personnel of law enforcement agencies recovered arms, ammunition and nearly 3,00 kg of explosive material from a "white-collar” terror module which was busted earlier in November in south Kashmir. Police teams and medical officers in Srinagar and Anantnag have checked lockers used by doctors and staff in district hospitals, private facilities, medical colleges and health centres so that hospital premises are not used for illegal activities.
They inspected all racks and lockers, and such checks will now be conducted frequently as part of routine vigilance. Earlier this month, an AK-47 rifle was found in Dr Adeel Rather's locker at the Government Medical College in Anantnag, which helped officials to unearth a wider terror network in which several doctors are reportedly involved.
The raid on the Kashmir Times
The SIA has raided the Jammu head office of Kashmir Times and the home of Prabodh Jamwal, the owner of the media outlet. It claimed that during the search of the newspaper's office, a few rounds of AK-47 rifle and pistol ammunition, along with a grenade lever, were recovered.
In a strong rebuttal, the management of The Kashmir Times vehemently condemned the raids and accusations, labelling them as "baseless" and a deliberate attempt to silence their publication. "Criticising the government is not the same as being inimical to the state. In fact, it is the very opposite," the KT management stated in a press release. Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the raid at the Kashmir Times office, saying that the raid is deeply "troubling and raises concerns about increasing pressure on media outlets in Jammu and Kashmir”.
On the other hand, the Delhi Police Special Cell has linked the Delhi blast case with fugitive Indian Mujahideen operative Mirza Shadab Baig, who allegedly played a role in the 2008 blasts in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and studied at the Al Falah University, which is under heavy scrutiny.