Ex-Army Personnel Nabbed In New Delhi For Links With LeT Module In J&K

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has apprehended a purported member of a Lashkar-e-Taiba module operating in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, officials stated on Tuesday.

Authorities mentioned that the individual in question, a retired Army personnel, played a crucial role in facilitating the reception of arms and ammunition from across the Line of Control (LoC). The accused, identified as Riyaz Ahmad Rather, hailing from Kupwara district, was apprehended on Sunday at New Delhi Railway Station.

According to a senior police officer, Riyaz participated in scheming with Khursheed Ahmad Rather and Ghulam Sarwar Rather to acquire arms and ammunition from terrorist handlers across the LoC.

The investigating agencies in Jammu and Kashmir provided information that Riyaz was wanted in a recent terror module case they had uncovered, resulting in the arrest of five individuals. In this operation, incriminating materials including five AK rifles (short), five AK magazines, and 16 short AK rounds were seized.

These weapons and ammunition were dispatched by Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK)-based LeT terrorist handlers Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, also known as Shakoor, from Gabra Karnah, and Qazi Mohammad Khushal from Dhanni Karnah across the border.

The authorities received information that Riyaz was on the run and would reach New Delhi railway station during the early hours. A special nabbed him as he attempted to flee the station, the officer said.

Riyaz, accompanied by his friend Altaf, had boarded the Mahakaushal Express from Jabalpur and arrived at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station around 3 pm on Saturday. They came to New Delhi railway station to go to another hideout.

Riyaz is suspected of having received a shipment of arms and ammunition from Khursheed Ahmad Rather and Ghulam Sarwar Rather, both of whom were previously detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Riyaz and his companion Altaf retired from the Indian Army on January 31, 2023.

Riyaz has been apprehended under relevant legal provisions, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police authorities have been notified.