CRPF man arrested with explosives in Srinagar

Shabir Ibn Yusuf SRINAGAR, Feb 21: After the arrest of SOG personnel by police in Handwara two weeks ago a, local personnel of Central Reserve Police (CRPF) was also arrested by police this morning in Pulwama carrying explosives while on way to blow up his battalion headquarter.

CRPF confirmed the arrest and said the personnel was on leave.

Security experts said there is nothing to worry about but they have to look deeply as to how the security personnel joined the militant cadres.

According to senior superintendent of police Pulwama, Nitish Kumar, CRPF personnel, Mudasir Yusuf Bhat of Batengoo Sopore, working in 183 Battalion CRPF was arrested by police during a search of vehicles.

SSP said that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing about « kilogram fitted in glass steel and hand grenade was recovered from Mudasir.

Nitish did not divulge, whether the recovery was made on a specific information or not.

"The investigations are in preliminary stage, I can not say," he told Kashmir Times and added, "A case has been registered and investigation started." He said that the explosive was given to Mudasir by Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

"The explosive belongs to HM, preliminary investigation reveal," he said.

PRO CRPF confirmed the arrest of Mudasir and said the arrested security man was on leave.

"He was on leave for last two weeks," he said.

However, another top police source said that Mudasir was given the job to blow up the CRPF battalion headquarter in Pulwama.

"The explosive was meant for blowing up the battalion headquarters and the arrest of CRPF cop saved many lives," police source said.

He said involvement of more CRPF cops can not be ruled out.

Security experts said that there is nothing to worry about and the matter is being investigated deeply.

Deputy inspector general (DIG) of police south Kashmir H K Lohia says that in such a big security set up these things hardly matters, but the problems needs a study.

"In valley the security set up is so big that such incidents hardly matter" adding "We must look into- how the CRPF or police gets involved in militant network".

DIG said that the local cops can do it for many reason.

"Let us see whether it has been done on monetary basis or any other compulsion," Lohia said.

He said that local boys need not to be doubted, "In Kargil and other gun battles they have won highest award-Their integrity should not be doubted." Another army officer, who is dealing the country insurgency in Rashtriya Rifles and is in valley for last two years said that it is not a desirable situation and that there is no need to keep extra vigil on local boys who are serving in different security force units.

"No there is no need to keep extra vigil on local boys- They are doing well but today's incident is not desirable," the army officer said.