Unique Chinese grenades recovered in Baramulla: Police

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Baramulla, Abdul Qayoom, said the OGW was tasked to kill a newly elected Councillor. “Security forces were on December 29, 2020 able to arrest an OGW, identified as Asif Gul, in Baramulla along with three Chinese grenades,” Mr Qayoom told reporters during a press conference.

He said security forces were looking for him from last over eight months.

“On August 17, 2020, militants attacked security forces party in which some jawans were martyred in Baramulla. In the encounter, which ensued after the attack, long surviving militants – Hyder and Usman – were killed in the exchange of fire,” he said.

He said the name of Asif surfaced during the investigation into the attack. “Asif was named by an OGW, who was arrested during the investigation. But, Asif already had 29 FIRs registered against him in different police stations of Baramulla,” he said.

However, he said Asif had already gone into hiding.

“His arrest is a major success for security forces working in Baramulla as he not only helps militants, but also recruits youth into militant ranks,” he said.

He said Asif has been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) four times in the past.

The SSP said the grenades seized from him are first of its kind recovered in J&K. “In Jammu and Kashmir, no such recovery has been made so far by the security forces. All the grenades were kept within a bag full of charcoal covered with a plastic bottle to escape from the joint checkpoint,” he added.