Author: PTI
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: June 15, 2003
URL: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030615/asp/nation/story_2070353.asp
Five more policemen have been taken
into custody for alleged links with militants involved in the killing of
former Jammu and Kashmir home minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone and attacks on
security forces in the state.
The crackdown since yesterday has
taken the total number of arrested policemen to seven.
Sub-inspectors Suliaman and Abdul
Ahad Rather, constables Shah Hussain, Farooq Ahmad Indrabi and Sonaullah
Dar were arrested from Kupwara, Anantnag and Baramulla districts, senior
superintendent of police S.D.S. Jamwal said.
He said the arrests followed interrogation
of assistant sub-inspector Ghulam Rasool Wani and constable Abdul Ahad.
The two were held on June 6 for alleged involvement in a plan of militants
to carry out a suicide attack on security forces at Lalpora police station
in Kupwara earlier this month.
Jamwal said all the policemen were
picked up from their places of posting. While Suliaman was taken into custody
in Baramulla, Rather was arrested in Kupwara where he was posted as in-charge
of the police post.
Hussain, Dar and Indrabi were arrested
in Anantnag and Kupwara, the officer said. He said they were being questioned
on their involvement in the killing of Lone last year and suicide attacks
on security forces.
"We will come out with authentic
information only after their interrogation is completed within the next
few days," Jamwal said.
Jamwal said Rather was posted at
Sogam when the minister was shot dead by militants at a rally before the
Assembly elections last year. His involvement was suspected in the attack
and he was being questioned.
The other arrested policemen had
also served in Sogam at the same time, he added.
The nexus between the police and
militants came to light when police personnel at Lalpora police station
foiled a fidayeen attack on June 3. A lone militant was helped by Wani,
station house officer of Sogam, and Ahad to carry out the suicide attack,
sources said.
Policemen at Lalpora managed to
overpower the militant and snatch his weapon, but he escaped. However,
the militant was later arrested from Kupwara and his interrogation led
to the arrest of Wani and Ahad.
