Girls being used by militant outfits: IG

Jammu, Sep 8 (UNI) Inspector General of Police (IG) Sheesh Pal Vaid today admitted that girls were being used by a terrorist outfit for militancy-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

A girl student of a local Dogra Law College, Nahida Altaf who worked as arms carrier for the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was arrested by Special Operations Groups yesterday at Tanda in Akhnoor, 30 kms from here. One UBGL along with eight grenades were recovered from a car in which she, along with her parents, was coming to Jammu from Poonch.

''The girl's arrest will help smash the complete network of the HM in the area,'' Mr Vaid said adding that the girl was allegedly working with HM for more than a year.

Special Operation Groups (SOGs) of police have been rushed to the Srinagar and Poonch districts following the disclosures made by the arrested woman operative of Hizb-ul Mujahideen.

''After preliminary questioning, Nahida, daughter of police constable Altaf Hussain, resident of Iqbal Nagar of Surankote (Poonch), disclosed that the consignment was handed to her by one Altaf Ahmad, which she had to pass on to one Fayaz Ahmad Talak of Anantnag,'' the IG said.

One suspected over ground worker (OGW) of the outfit was also arrested from Udhampur on her disclosure, he added.

He, however, asserted that the family members of the girl had no knowledge about the presence of arms and ammunition in their car.

However, police sources said the SOG also raided girls hostel of Dogra Law College yesterday and picked up another student Anjum Akhtar from Anantnag district for questioning.

UNI