Two Kashmiri IS militants arrested near Red Fort

New Delhi: Special Cell of Delhi Police on Friday claimed that they have arrested two Kashmir based militants, who were associated with a terrorist organization, affiliated to Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (IS-JK). The accused were identified as Parvaiz Rashid Lone and Jamsheed Zahoor Paul, both residents of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir.

The accused had earlier facilitated terrorist Abdullah Basit in Delhi, who was recently arrested by NIA (National Investigation Agency).

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwaha claimed that the accused were following instructions of Omar Ibn Nazir and Aadil Thoker, the current Emir and Nayab Emir of IS-JK respectively through encrypted messaging applications.

IS-JK is in the nascent stage and is a close-knit group of trusted and verified members. Recently, four members of IS-JK were killed during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Arrested terrorist Parvaiz Rashid Lone is the elder brother of Firdous Rashid Lone alias Abu Ummer, who along with Sameer Ahmed Lone was killed by security forces in an encounter in J&K on January 24," said the DCP.

He further added that Firdous Rashid Lone was a terrorist carrying reward of Rs 3 Lakh. Brainwashed by the radical elements, Firdous Ahmad Lone joined militancy on September 5, 2016. Parvaiz Rashid, in turn, was influenced by the group after his younger brother Firdous Rashid got killed and hence joined the ranks of IS-JK.

Talking about the arrest, the senior officer claimed that the team of Special Cell was developing inputs through reliable sources that some sleeper cell members of IS-JK are frequently visiting Delhi for onward travel to UP. During the collection of information, it was revealed that these terrorists are procuring sophisticated weapons through their contacts in Uttar Pradesh. The information further revealed that these terrorists were using Delhi as the transit point and they have even managed to deliver an arms consignment to IS-JK cadres earlier.

"On September 6, the two accused were arrested on the basis of an information that they would come at Netaji Subhash Park near Lal Quila for travelling to Kashmir at about 11 pm. The information further claimed that the accused have already procured arms/ammunition from UP. It was informed that this consignment will be used for executing terrorist acts in J&K," said the officer.

Police claimed that the accused Parvaiz Rashid Lone has completed BTech in Civil Engineering in 2016 and was now pursuing MTech from a college situated in Uttar Pradesh. In April 2018, accused Parvaiz has delivered one 9mm pistol to a contact of Asif alias Omar Ibn Nazir, the current chief of IS in J&K and the pistol was being brought from Didauli, UP through his contacts. While the other accused Jamsheed Zahoor Paul is doing a diploma in Electrical Engineering from J&K. During cremation of Sabzar Bhat in April 2017, he met Shaukat, whose brother-in-law Owais was an active militant at that time and later killed during an encounter. Owais further introduced him to Asif.

Moreover, police suspect that they have supported the ideology of Burhan Wani, a terrorist of the Hizbul Mujahideen group, who was killed by the Indian Army in 2016.