BARAMULLA; 22, April 2013: Police arrested 7 persons in Sopore town and its adjoining areas in North Kashmir on the charges of having links with Lashker-e-Toiba. Son of a rich fruit merchant, two students, Imam of a local mosque, brother of a slain rebel and a taxi driver are among the seven persons detained by the police for allegedly working for the Lashker-e-Toiba in Sopore.

The police says the seven overground workers were detained since the arrest top commander of the outfit Qari Naveed, alias Fahadullah, of Pakistan in a joint operation by the police and Indian Army in Bahrampora village near Sopore when he was riding a cycle.

“We have almost wiped out the LeT network in Sopore and neighbouring villages. One of those detained included an Imam who was responsible for killing of an 18-year-old youth Suhail Ahmed who was shot dead inside a mosque in Sopore on March 19,” said a police officer.

“We have also recovered the weapon which was used in murder,” he added.

Police said another rebel who was behind the killing of Special Police Officer Riyaz-ul-Hassan in a village near Sopore was also detained in a separate operation.

Police sources said the 23-year-old son of a rich apple merchant who was allegedly providing logistic support to the LeT rebels has also been detained. The police recovered seven mobile phones from him which were allegedly used by the LeT Commander Fahadullah.

Sources said a driver of a passenger cab was also detained by the J&K police from Jammu and on his information two assault rifles were recovered. Till recently, he was driving the car of an Executive Engineer of Road and Building Department. The car was rented by the officials. Police, however, confirmed that two persons have been arrested after Fahadullah’s arrest.

“Shakir Ahmed, a college student, who was also arrested along with Fahadullah from Bahrampora. The two were riding bicycle at the time of their arrest. We have also arrested Rafiq Malik of Marazigund Rafiabad where Fahadullah was staying for last four months,” said a senior police officer in Srinagar.

Sources said after the killing of six LeT rebels in Saidpora Sopore on December 18, Fahadullah was confined to Malik’s house in Marazigund. The police said, Fahadullah had told his investigators that the outfit’s command from across the border had become suspicious of him since the Saidpora encounter.