LeT Behind Budgam Bank Loot, Claim Police

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday claimed to have busted Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) module responsible for looting Rs 14 lakh from a bank in Budgam on Monday.

The police said they have arrested five LeT Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and are on the lookout for three more operatives belonging to the same outfit.

On Monday, unidentified gunmen had barged into the Jammu and Kashmir Bank's Malpora branch in Budgam district and looted around Rs 14 lakh, including nearly Rs 2 lakh in new denominations.

Police used specific leads and trail left by the robbers to crack the case.

Following the use of technology and human resources, investigators rounded up one Mohammad Iqbal Wani of Chewa Kalan village. His arrest and disclosures further led the police to Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Tanveer Alam Wani, both residents of the same locality.

While questioning, police found that the trio ran a highly committed and secret OGW network of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit.

The trio revealed that conspiracy of robbing the Malpora branch was hatched and masterminded by Arif Dar alias Abu Haibatullah of neighboring Lelhar village in Pulwama.

Dar, an active local militant of LeT outfit, along with 2 other militants of foreign origin, identified by their codes, Abu Ali and Abu Ismail were part of the looting plan, police said.

The accused allegedly facilitated the dacoity, including transportation, logistics, and recce.

The group also used the services of Tanveer Bhat and Raqeeb Rather, again the residents of Chewa Kalan, for driving the robbers to and from Malpora.

According to police, on November 21, Arif Dar of LeT outfit, along with two foreign militants, left Chew Kalan village in Pulwama with other OWGs in two vehicles and upon reaching Malpora, barged into the bank.

The group looted Rs 14 lakh from the bank after pinning down the employees at gunpoint.

After looting the bank, they drove back to Chew Kalan, where the militants deboarded the vehicle on the way and decamped with the cash.

With the arrest of these five suspects, police claim to have busted a very important OGW module of the LeT outfit. The hunt is on for three other militants.