In a significant and alarming recovery of explosives near the national capital, a team from the Jammu and Kashmir Police has seized 350 kg of explosives, suspected to be ammonium nitrate, along with an assault rifle from Faridabad in Haryana. This major haul comes just days after the arrest of a Kashmiri doctor from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly putting up posters in Srinagar that supported the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Sources revealed that the recovery in Faridabad was made following disclosures by Dr Adil Ahmad Rather during his interrogation. The explosives and arms were reportedly stored with another doctor, identified as Mujammil Shakeel, who has also been arrested. Shakeel hails from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir and is employed at Al-Falah Hospital in Faridabad.
Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta stated that 20 timers were recovered along with the 350 kg of explosives. He further confirmed that a pistol, three magazines, and a walkie-talkie set were also seized during the operation.
The case traces back to October 27, when posters endorsing the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed surfaced in Srinagar. Local police launched an investigation, and CCTV footage captured Rather in the act of putting up the posters. He was subsequently traced to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and arrested last week. Investigations revealed that Rather had been working at the Government Medical College in Anantnag until October last year. A search of his locker at the Anantnag facility led to the recovery of an assault rifle. Acting on the information provided by Rather during questioning, authorities conducted the seizure of explosives in Faridabad.
Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammunition from Rather's locker at the Government Medical College in Anantnag. Officials confirmed that the latest recovery of explosives and arms was the result of a coordinated operation between the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Haryana Police.
Rather has been charged under the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Sources indicated that the doctor's alleged involvement points to a disturbing trend where terror networks are recruiting highly educated professionals.
Police sources admitted that the intended plan behind stockpiling such a large quantity of explosives so close to the national capital remains unknown, and a detailed investigation is ongoing to uncover further details. Authorities are also examining how such a massive amount of explosives was transported and stored undetected in close proximity to the capital.
Reports added that the Srinagar Police had registered a case after posters promoting Jaish-e-Mohammed were discovered in multiple areas of the city. The investigation, aided by CCTV footage showing a man affixing the posters, led to Rather's identification. The Jammu and Kashmir Police then located and arrested the doctor in Saharanpur last week.
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