On Sunday, the police claimed to have arrested the missing Special Police Officer (SPO) along with three over ground workers of Jaish-e-Mohammad in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
In a statement, Police said that acting on a specific input, Budgam police along with 53RR and 181 Bn CRPF launched a CASO at Hayatpora, Chadoora. During the search, one vehicle tried to flee from the cordon which was stopped tactfully, the occupants tried to resist who were overpowered by the government forces’ personnel.
One of them was identified as desserter SPO turned militant Altaf Hussain. The other 3 have been identified as: Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Jamsheed Magray, and Zahid Dar all residents of Pulwama. The police claimed that on search, arms, ammunition, and other incriminating material were recovered.
In this regard case FIR no 242/2020 under relevant sections of UAPA has been registered in PS Chadoora and investigation taken up, reads the statement.
While, a report by KNO, quoting unnamed officials, stated that the SPO Altaf Bhat son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, a resident of Qazipora locality of Chadoora surrendered before SOG Chadoora and has been brought to SOG camp.
He had also escaped during a gunfight at Chadoora in which one local militant was apprehended alive.
