J&K: LeT terrorist overpowered by villagers in Reasi was BJP's IT cell chief

Two heavily armed LeT terrorists were overpowered by villagers and handed over to the police in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Sunday. Interestingly one of them was a BJP leader until recently.

Jammu: One of the two heavily-armed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists apprehended by villagers in Reasi district on Sunday was a BJP leader until recently and handled its Minority Morcha IT cell for Jammu Province.

The incident took place in Tuksan Dhok village and the captured terrorists included, according to police, the "most wanted LeT commander" Talib Hussain, a resident of Rajouri district and the "mastermind" of the recent IED blasts in the district, the officials said. Interestingly, Talib was a member of the BJP, and until two months ago was working as IT and social media in-charge of BJP Minority Morcha for Jammu province.

A purported order by BJP's Minority Morcha dated May 9, 2022 has gone viral on social media. "Mr Talib Hussain Shah, at Draj Kotranka, Budhan, District Rajouri, shall be the new IT & Social Media Incharge BJP Minority Mocha, Jammu Province, with immediate effect," the order reads. Moreover, Shah has several pictures with senior BJP leaders including J&K president Ravindra Raina.

A purported order by BJP's Minority Morcha in which Talib Hussain was appointed as IT and Social Media incharge of BJP Minority Morcha

J&K: LeT terrorist overpowered by villagers in Reasi was BJP's IT cell chief

The BJP has however blamed the online membership system which allows people to join a party without any background check. "I'd say this is a new model -- entering the BJP, gaining access, doing recce... there was even a plot to kill the top leadership which was busted by the police," BJP spokesman RS Pathania said. Earlier in the day, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh lauded the villagers for their courage and announced cash rewards for them.

"The villagers of Tukson Dhok showed extreme courage in apprehending the terrorists of LeT who had reached the area to take shelter after continuous pressure from the police and army (in Rajouri district)," Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh said in a statement here. He identified the other captured terrorist as Faisal Ahmad Dar of south Kashmir's Pulwama, and said two AK assault rifles, seven grenades, a pistol and a huge quantity of ammunition were recovered from the two arrested terrorists.

Singh said the Lt Governor has applauded the courage of villagers and announced a cash reward of Rs five lakh for their bravery, while the Director General of Police announced a cash reward of Rs two lakh for them. "I salute the bravery of villagers of Tukson Dhok, Reasi, who apprehended two-most wanted terrorists. Such determination by common man shows end of terrorism is not far away. UT Govt to extend Rs five lakh cash reward to villagers for gallant act against terrorists and terrorism," the office of LG tweeted.

The arrest of the duo followed unearthing of a module headed by Hussain in Rajouri district on June 28, which was behind the recent series of explosions in the district. While two terror operatives of the outfit were arrested along with five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Hussain was on the run and had moved to nearby Reasi district to escape the dragnet of security forces.

Hussain was in constant touch with LeT terrorist Qasim based in Pakistan and was involved in at least three cases of IED blasts at Rajouri district besides civilian killings and grenade blasts, Singh said. During preliminary questioning, he said it was revealed that both the terrorists were also in touch with a Pakistani LeT handler Salman.

Terming the arrest of the two terrorists as a major breakthrough, the officer said they were attempting to revive terrorism in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch besides Reasi. Twin explosions rocked Kotrana town of Rajouri on March 26 and another on April 19, leaving two persons injured. Two more persons were injured in another blast that took place in Shahpur-Budhal area of Rajouri on April 24.