Soura weapon snatching conspiracy cracked; 4 accused arrested:Police

Srinagar, Jul 27:Police on Friday said that they have “cracked the conspiracy” of a weapon snatching incident in Soura area of Srinagar earlier this year.

“On 25th of February this year, a militant attack was carried out on the guard post deployed at the residence of Hurriyat leader Fazal Haq Qureshi. In the attack one Policeman Ct Farooq Ahmad was killed and his service rifle was snatched.FIR No: 26/2018 under section 302, 392 RPC, 7/27Arms Act, Section 13, 18 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 was registered in Police Station Soura and investigation was initiated, “police said.

“The evidence collected during initial investigation revealed the role of local militant Isa Fazli resident of Shadab Colony 90 Feet Road Soura. Further, as the investigation progressed, the role of other militants including Syed Owais Shafi of Kokernag, Tawseef Ahmad and their associates Umar Noor Bhat of New Colony Chattabal, Waseem Ahmad Sofi of Bagh-e-Nand Singh Chatabal, Ubaid Zoji of Naribal Soura and Adil Majid Bhat in the entire conspiracy and its execution was unraveled,” police said in a statement.

The statement said that investigation also revealed that in the evening of 24.2.2018, “a conspiracy was hatched in the house of Adil Majid Bhat at Bagh-e-Nand Singh Chatabal wherein the above mentioned militants and their associates had intricately conspired to attack the guard post deployed at residence of Hurriyat leader Fazal Haq Qureshi and snatch the weapon.”

“Investigation revealed that Adil Majid, Waseem Ahmad and Umar Noor Bhat carried out reconnaissance of the residence of Fazal Haq Qureshi on 25.2.2018 at Soura so that attack can be carried out in the evening in pursuance of the conspiracy,” police said.

Thereafter, police said “as conspired, Umar Noor Bhat carried Isa Fazli, Syed Owais and Tawseef Ahmad in a car whereas Waseem Ahmad Sofi moved on his motorbike ahead of the car acting as a pilot to check the presence of any security forces between Chatabal and Soura so as to alert the group beforehand. He remained in constant communication with Isa Fazli. Another conspirator and associate Ubaid Zoji also waited near the residence of Fazal Haq Qureshi on a motorbike separately.”

Police said, “After dropping the militant near the target house, Umar Noor Bhat waited near Awantabhawan Soura. Then Isa Fazli, Syed Owais and Tawseef Ahmad carried out the attack as conspired on the guard of Fazal Haq Qureshi and snatched the service rifle of Police Constable Farooq Ahmad. After carrying out the attack they fled away with Ubaid Zoji and Waseem Ahmad on motorbikes and were further transported out by Umar Noor Bhat in his car.”