Srinagar: In one of the biggest catches in recent months, a top Hizbul Mujahideen leader Tariq Pandit, a close aide of the terror group's poster boy Burhan Wani, was today arrested in Pulwama.
Considered as a category "A" militant, Pandit figured prominently with Burhan in various pictures and videos that were posted by the terror group last year. Pandit carried a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
There were conflicting reports as senior police officials of Pulwama district in South Kashmir said that Pandit had surrendered but the army maintained that he had been apprehended.
A defence spokesman issued a statement saying that a "major blow" had been dealt to the banned Hizbul Mujahideen with the arrest of Pandit in a "well coordinated swift operation" today on Newa-Pinglana road in the district.
"The movement of the terrorist was kept under constant surveillance. As the terrorist closed in, he was apprehended by the team of Rashtriya Rifle battalion, along with one 9 mm pistol, two Chinese grenades and other war like stores were recovered from him," the spokesman said.
However, police officials said that Pandit had joined the terror group along with his cousin Naseer Pandit, a cop-turned-terrorist, early last year.
An FIR has been registered and the apprehended terrorist has been handed over to the local Police Station, Pulwama, the defence spokesman added.
"Pandit was a self-styled area commander and is a very important catch. His interrogation should definitely lead us to the Hizbul Mujahideen network in south Kashmir," the officials said.
Considered as a category "A" militant, Pandit figured prominently with Burhan in various pictures and videos that were posted by the terror group last year. Pandit carried a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
There were conflicting reports as senior police officials of Pulwama district in South Kashmir said that Pandit had surrendered but the army maintained that he had been apprehended.
A defence spokesman issued a statement saying that a "major blow" had been dealt to the banned Hizbul Mujahideen with the arrest of Pandit in a "well coordinated swift operation" today on Newa-Pinglana road in the district.
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"The movement of the terrorist was kept under constant surveillance. As the terrorist closed in, he was apprehended by the team of Rashtriya Rifle battalion, along with one 9 mm pistol, two Chinese grenades and other war like stores were recovered from him," the spokesman said.
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However, police officials said that Pandit had joined the terror group along with his cousin Naseer Pandit, a cop-turned-terrorist, early last year.
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An FIR has been registered and the apprehended terrorist has been handed over to the local Police Station, Pulwama, the defence spokesman added.
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"Pandit was a self-styled area commander and is a very important catch. His interrogation should definitely lead us to the Hizbul Mujahideen network in south Kashmir," the officials said.
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