- By Mayukh Debnath
- Thu, 25 Jul 2024 06:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kathua Ambush: Two suspected terror associates were arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack that claimed the lives of five Indian Army personnel in Jammu & Kashmir's Kathua district earlier this month, police said. On July 8, terrorists ambushed an Army convoy in Kathua's Bandnota village, killing five soldiers and leaving as many injured.
The attack took place on the Machedi-Kindli Malhar road in a remote area, approximately 150 km from Kathua town, around 3.30 pm. The incident took place amidst a spike in terror-related incidents in the relatively peaceful Jammu division. The area where the ambush took place is part of an old infiltration route along the international border.
Terming the arrests of the two overground workers (OGWs) a significant breakthrough, the police said they were apprehended for allegedly supporting terror-related actions, news agency PTI reported on Thursday. "These individuals were found to have deliberately withheld crucial information from the police," a police spokesperson said.
The accused have been identified as Layaqat Ali alias Pawu of Kalna Dhanu Parole (Billawar) and Mool Raj alias Jenju from Bowli Mohalla (Malhar). According to the police, Ali and Raj obstructed efforts to prevent terrorist actions by refusing to divulge crucial information to officials. "The arrest of these OGWs underscores our commitment," the police spokesperson stated.
Sections 61(1) (Criminal conspiracy), 113 (Terrorist act), 147 (Waging, or attempting to wage war against Government of India), 150 (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the EIMCO (Egress and Internal Movement Control) Act have been invoked against the duo, the police informed.
(With inputs from agencies)