FARIDABAD: Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Police have recovered around 360 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate and a cache of arms and equipment from a rented house in Faridabad, following the arrest of two Kashmiri doctors in a terror-linked case, police said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference, Faridabad Commissioner of Police Satender Kumar Gupta, said the operation was carried out based on leads from Dr Adil Ahmad Rather during interrogation. Dr Aadil was earlier arrested by J&K Police from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly putting up Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) posters in Srinagar on October 27.
During questioning, Rather’s disclosure let to another accused, Dr. Mujammil Shakeel, a resident of Kashmir and faculty member at Al-Falah University in the Dhouj area of Faridabad. He was subsequently arrested, and his premises was searched on Sunday, the Commissioner said.
He said that for the last few days, Faridabad and J&K Police have been carrying out a joint operation. “Under this, our teams arrested an accused, Dr Muzammil. During follow-up raids, 360 kg inflammable material – possibly ammonium nitrate – was recovered. I want to make it clear it is not RDX. The operation is still underway,” he said.
He added that the seized material was found stored in 14 separate bags in one room, along with an assault rifle with three magazines and 83 live rounds, a pistol with eight live rounds, two empty cartridges, 20 electronic timers, batteries, 24 remotes, walkie-talkie sets, electric wiring, and suitcases containing inflammable items.
Gupta clarified that the rifle is not an AK-47 but an assault weapon similar in design. “Chemicals and devices could be used for preparing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The house had been rented by Dr. Rather, whose earlier arrest led to the chain of raids,” he said.
He said that they are now probing how such a large quantity of explosive material was transported and stored near the national capital without detection. “A cleric from the locality was also detained for questioning. The recovered items have been sent for forensic examination, while all suspects are being interrogated jointly by J&K Police, Haryana Police, and central agencies,” he said.
The Commissioner added that cases have been registered under relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). “Further searches and arrests are likely as the investigation expands to track possible links and handlers behind the operation,” he said. —(KNO)
