A LeT operative was arrested from Mendhar for his links with militants in J&K and across the border in Pakistan today. He was among a dozen people detained for questioning in connection with the ongoing search operation in a forest belt in Poonch district.
The accused Yasir Arafat, son of Mohammad Khursheed, a resident of Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district, was among three suspects detained by the police for questioning from Nepal while they were trying to flee to Saudi Arabia from Kathmandu on October 25.
SSP Poonch Dr Vinod Kumar told that Yasir Arafat was in touch with the group of militants hiding in Bhatta Durrian forests and had provided them food and shelter.
Besides, 18 people, including two women, were earlier detained for questioning during the operation in Bhatta Durrian forest.
The officials said the operation to track down a group of militants in Bhatta Durrian forest in Mendhar and Surankote forest in Poonch and nearby Thannamandi in Rajouri district entered the 23rd day today.
Yasir Arafat was working in Saudi Arabia and had returned to Mendhar in March-April this year. He was in close touch with militants from Saudi Arabia and maintained his links after returning to Mendhar, especially with the cadre of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.
He had provided food and shelter to the militants in his house who had struck at Chamrer forests in Surankote on October 11 and Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar on October 14, in which nine Army personnel, two of the Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), were martyred.
Yasir Arafat was formally arrested after his links with the militants were established. Sources said two militants came to his house for food and shelter while the rest stayed in the forests. There were at least five to seven militants in the jungles.
