Pictures of four youths wielding gun go viral yesterday, arrested during CASO in Kupwara forests

Kupwara: A day after four Handwara youths has announced to have joined militant outfit Al Badr, were arrested by government forces during a cordon-and-search operation in Kalaroos forests of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district during wee hours on Sunday.

An official told GNS that a joint team of SOG and army has launched a cordon in Nag Dagi forests of Kalaroos late Saturday night following the inputs about the presence of four Handwara youths, whose pictures wielding gun goes viral on social media while announcing to join the militant outfit Al Badr only on yesterday.

“Today wee hours the joint team overpowered all the four youths from the forest area and taken into custody for further questioning,” he said.

The official said that arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession.

The official identified the arrested persons as Umar Bashir Sheikh (23) of Chotipora, Handwara, Danish Khazer Sheikh (22), Waseem Ahmad Khan (23) of Chotipora, Handwara and Tahir Habib Bhat of Khuru.

The official said that among the four Waseem is an MBA student while as Umar has done diploma in Operation Theater (OP).

SSP Operations, Kupwara district, Shafqat Hussain also confirmed the arrest of all the four youth during the CASO but refused to divulge further details. (GNS)