Two militants nabbed with Pakistan SIM cards in Poonch

Poonch, (J-K) June 8 (ANI): Two suspected militants with Pakistan SIM cards in their possession were arrested in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

Police said the arrested militants belonged to militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"One militant is Khursheed, who was working for Lashkar-e-Taiba militant outfit for the last six-seven years and second, Mohammad Tahib, was recently inducted. There are other people also and we believe that we would be able to bust the remaining network," said Jaan Mohammad, Station House Officer of Gursai police station.

One of the accused said that he was forced to work for the militant outfit as his life was under a threat.

"This year also after militants threatened over phone to kill me, I couriered the money. Now also they are threatening to kill me," said Khursheed Ahmed.

Officials said that militants operating in the region smuggled SIM cards of Pakistan's mobile phone service providers mainly to contact their mentors.

"This is the reason militants are getting SIM cards smuggled from across the border of Pakistan mobile companies. They are using them to contact across the border and between themselves," said Javed Iqbal Mir, deputy superintendent of police, operations, Poonch district.

Security forces also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition including one AK-56 rifle with magazines from Balakote area of Mendhar sector. (ANI)