Srinagar: A Pakistani terrorist was caught following a fierce gunfight on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, making him the second terrorist from Pakistan to be held this month. The terrorist was identified as Sajjad alias Abu Ubadullah, 22, a resident of Muzaffargarh district of Balochistan province. "His preliminary interrogation reveals the captured terrorist is a 22-year-old LeT operative and belongs to Pakistan," an army statement said, referring to the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group.

The captured terrorist was interrogated by the army and Jammu and Kashmir Police. His capture followed a four-day joint operation by the army and police. A gunfight with the terrorists started on Wednesday afternoon after the army intercepted a group of militants in Toot Mar Gali of Nowgam sector in Kupwara. They had sneaked into India from Pakistan, officials said.Four terrorists were killed in the gunfight.
The army statement said that based on intelligence inputs about presence of terrorists in the forested area Kazinag Dhar Ridge, a search operation was launched on August 24, which forced the terrorists to move towards the higher reaches of the ridge. "An effective cordon was established by the army, including Special Forces, which were inducted by helicopters to prevent the escape of the terrorists," the statement said.

"In a slow and systematic operation owing to the difficult terrain and thick foliage, the forces re-established contact with the balance of the terrorists who had taken shelter inside a natural cave in the afternoon of August 26. "After a deliberate operation by the army and police which lasted till today (August 27) afternoon, three more terrorists were eliminated while one terrorist was captured alive," it said. It added that a huge cache of "war-like" stores which included four AK-47 rifles and two under-barrel grenade launchers were also recovered. Sajjad was caught after Pakistani terrorist Naveed was arrested on August 5 following a terror attack on BSF troopers on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Naveed had taken three people hostage, who overpowered him.

(IANS)