Pune: Junaid Mohammad Ata Mohammad’s accomplice, arrested by the State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from Dapodi on suspicion of having links with Lashkar-e-Toiba, has been arrested in Kashmir. The arrested suspect is identified as Aftab Hussain Shah (28, resident of Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir) and is suspected by police to be a key link between Junaid and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
After Junaid’s arrest last month, ATS teams conducted a search operation in coordination with local police at various places in Kargil, Gandharbal and Srinagar areas. The team arrested Aftab at Kishtwar, 291 km from Srinagar. Aftab was produced before a local court, which granted him a three-day transit remand and remanded him to ATS custody. ATS team has taken him to Pune. Aftab does furniture work. Police suspect he acted as a key link between Junaid and Lashkar-e-Taiba. His inquiries are likely to yield important information.
Meanwhile, to recruit youths from various states into the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist organization; Junaid, who is also suspected of trying to send terrorists to Jammu and Kashmir for training, is due to be remanded in police custody on Friday. Preliminary investigations have revealed that he was funded by terrorists from Jammu and Kashmir to carry out terrorist activities.
Junaid will be produced in court today. Police Inspector Manjusha Bhosale is investigating under the guidance of ATS Assistant Commissioner of Police Arun Vaikar.
