Dr Bashir is a PhD scholar from the Central University of Kashmir and had also applied for the position of assistant professor at the institution, a top officer said. During questioning, Dr Bashir told sleuths that his code name was Dr Sabeel. “He used to work for HM and JeM from behind the curtain. He would identify youngsters; motivate, fund, and ready them to join terror outfits,” the officer added.
Kulgam Police were in search of a person with the code name Dr Sabeel who was involved in recruiting youth from Kulgam and adjoining areas for terror outfits, the officer said, adding: “Special police teams were formed to search for the suspect and take legal action. After systemic efforts, cops zeroed in on a vehicle that was being used by Dr Bashir, a resident of Ashmuji, Kulgam. A police checkpoint was set up at Ashmuji and Dr Bashir was arrested.”
“During questioning, Dr Bashir disclosed that he was associated with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) from his student days and had been a member of its student wing, Jamaat-ul-Tulbha, for 14 years before becoming a full-time JeI member,” said the officer.
As per information obtained from Dr Bashir, two young men whom he had radicalised and recruited as overground workers — including a 17-year-old boy from Ashmuji Bhan and Tariq Ahmed Naikoo alias Chawla (22) from Check Wattoo Aharabal, both working as labourers — were subsequently arrested, the officer said.
Based on information revealed by Dr Bashir, a Chinese pistol along with a magazine, and nine 9mm live rounds were seized. On the disclosures of the overground workers, an AK-47 magazine, 29 live rounds, and one Chinese grenade were recovered. A case was registered at Kulgam police station in this connection under relevant sections of the law, the officer said.