Two days ahead of the polling in Jammu and Samba districts, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu police have arrested the state chief of Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HuJI). The arrested militant was purportedly involved in several terror acts including the serial blasts at Faizabad and Varanasi.

Abdul Qayoom Manhas, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Jammu-Kathua range said, “HuJI militant outfit chief and accused in Faizabad and Varanasi blasts has been arrested by SOG, when he was doing a recce of an area near Jammu Railway station on Sunday evening.”

The DIG further told that the arrested HuJI chief has been recognized as Muzaffer Ahmed Illahi Daanger alias Suhail Faisal, son of Ghulam Ahmed of Chingam in district Kishtwar.

Manhas added, “Faisal is a suspect in the Faizabad and Varanasi blasts in Uttar Pradesh and killing of five General Reserve Engineer Force officials including Commandant Lt Colonel Ajay Verma in Kishtwar in June.”

DIG Manhas further informed, “Faisal joined the terrorist ranks in 2000 and crossed over to Pakistan along with 20 other youths via Poonch border for receiving arms training.”

He further added that after the rigorous training of one year in forward Kahuta and Mansera camp in North West Frontier Province, he lived in Pakistan for the longer period of 6 year and finally infiltrated from Keri sector in Rajouri.

DIG said, “He surrendered at Rajouri with four other associates namely Khursheed, Manzoor, Hamza and Zaraar on January 18, 2007. He remained passive for four-five months but remained in touch with the HUJI cadre.”

Manhas further told that in 2007, he again joined the militant outfit and worked closely with the readed terrorists, Saba and Danish of Kishtwar.

Both of them were chief planners and executed the serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh in 2007.

The DIG told that last year, when Saba was killed by the Jammu police in Kishtwar, Suhail was made the chief of HuJI.  
 
The HuJI commander also raised money for the militancy activities from the Hawala channel and when he was arrested, 1 lakh of hawala money was also recovered from him. One Chinese pistol, one magazine, six pistol rounds, one hand grenade were found from his custody. He has also disclosed several dumps of ammunition and arms at Kishtwar district, where a police team will quickly start search.