In a major breakthrough, the police have smashed a terror module and arrested eight overground workers (OGWs) on the charges of ‘enemy agents’ who were instrumental in guiding and providing logistics to the recently infiltrated Pakistani terrorists who attacked security forces in the Kathua, Doda and Udhampur districts of Jammu division, said a police statement on Monday.

The arrests have been made in different parts of the Kathua district.

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The statement further said that the successful operation in the Gandoh area resulted in the killing of three Pakistani terrorists and on the basis of intelligence leads provided by Central agencies followed by investigation by police, a module, apparently the main one, behind the recent infiltration that has resulted in increased terrorist activities and terrorist movements in upper reaches of Doda, Udhampur and Kathua has been smashed.

“The kingpins of the module in active collusion with terrorist handlers across the border, played crucial roles in receiving the foreign terrorists after their illegal and surreptitious entry into India in the Samba-Kathua sector. The module, besides providing initial shelter, food and other minor logistics, was also responsible for guiding them to the upper reaches of the mountains and jungles of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda districts around Kailash mountain which is at the centre of tri-junction of these three districts”.

During interrogation, members of the module have confirmed that the three terrorists killed at Gandoh in the 26 June encounter had taken the help of the module in hiding and travelling without being detected till they reached the upper reaches.

While the kingpin has been identified to be Mohd Lateef @ Haji Lateef, 8 other members of the module have been taken into custody as enemy agents, the statement said.

Mohd Lateef @ Haji Lateef is the kingpin in the whole network of OGWs in the area. He acted as guide, logistics etc for the groups of terrorists passing through the area. He engaged and directed others in their role as guide and food providers in the area.

Those arrested have been identified as; Akhter Ali, Saddam, Kushal, Noorani, Maqbool, Liaquat, Kasim Din and Khadim.

The statement said that more than 50 persons living in temporary Dhokes (summer kutcha huts of migrant Gujjars) in the upper reaches and mountains for purposes of grazing their livestock have been investigated for coming in contact with the Pakistani terrorists for either providing food, shelter or communication help, only a few did not report to the police and some have accepted money from the terrorists.

Those who have reported to the police in time are being treated as innocent. The liability of others, however, is being examined including prior connection with terrorists and their handlers across. Members of the general public therefore are requested to inform the police about any contact with terrorists as soon as possible after the terrorists have left. Failure to report besides being a criminal offence is likely to adversely affect the person’s access to government benefits, the statement added.