Over 300 persons from Poonch operating from Pak, PoJK; trying to fan trouble: Report

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
JAMMU, JANUARY 05 (STC): Police and Intelligence agencies have identified
More than 300 persons in the border district of Poonch have been identified by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and intelligence agencies involved in the operations from Pakistan and PoJK to create trouble in the region, reports Jammu based Daily Excelsior newspaper.
The report quoting the security agencies states that these person are engaged in operations fanning terror activities like facilitating infiltration attempts from the Line of Control (LoC), narcotics smuggling, radicalization of youth and other illegal activities.
Quoting highly placed sources, the Excelsior reports that following a comprehensive exercise conducted by police and Intelligence agencies, around 310 persons have been identified in Poonch district, majority of whom hailed from Mendhar, Surankote and Sabjian who have crossed over to Pakistan and PoJK using Line of Control (LoC) over past three decades and are now operating from the enemy’s soil to create disturbances not only in Poonch but also in the neighbouring Rajouri district.
“Identification of the persons who have crossed over to Pakistan and PoJK was carried out after detailed survey undertaken by the agencies. All these persons were identified and lists prepared but their names have been kept secret so far,” the sources said, adding police have obtained entire evidence of these elements having exfiltrated to Pakistan and has started process to attach their properties.
The Excelsior report further states that a startling revelation surfaced during investigations which showed that a total of 2500 persons from Poonch district have illegally crossed over to PoJK followed by Pakistan during past three decades. However, role of around 310 has surfaced in the illegal activities.
Most of them have been involved in undesirable activities which include fanning terror and narcotics smuggling in Jammu and Kashmir and attempts to radicalize youth with a view to lure them into terrorism.
Some of these persons are active terrorists in Pakistan and PoJK affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists and are not only engaged in facilitating infiltration attempts, trying to send arms and narcotics through drones and other means but are also contacting youths to radicalize them, reveals the Excelsior report further quoting the sources.
Quoting police authorities, the report says, assets on their names have been verified. And following due legal procedure, their properties are being attached.
Police has already identified and attached properties of nearly two dozen such persons attached while assets of 20-25 persons will be seized by January 26 following due procedure of law. And, in due course of time, properties of all those identified for their involvement in illegal activities will be attached, they added.
Giving further details, the report states the security agencies have found some of the persons operating from Pakistan and PoJK repeatedly contacted the local youth in Rajouri and Poonch districts through different modes of Social Media communications with a view to radicalize them and lure them into militancy.
However, majority of such attempts have failed, the officials said.
(Straight Talk Communications)