Jammu & Kashmir Police on Tuesday arrested two persons near the Baba Dem area of Srinagar after recovering a pistol, three magazines, 21 live rounds, two mobile phones, and 10 posters of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from their possession. The arrests were made during routine vehicle checking in Srinagar district, underscoring the ongoing crackdown on terror support networks in the Kashmir Valley.

What Was Recovered

A police team intercepted the two accused — travelling on a motorcycle — and conducted a search. The haul included one pistol, three magazines, 21 live cartridges, two mobile phones, and 10 LeT posters, pointing to a possible overground worker (OGW) link to the banned outfit.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Faisal Ahmad Bhat of Malpora Habba Kadal and Faisal Ahmad Guroo of Rajouri Kadal, both areas within Srinagar city.

Case Registered Under UAPA and Arms Act

A case bearing FIR No. 26/2025 has been registered under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Arms Act, according to police. Further investigation is currently under way.

The UAPA allows for stringent bail conditions and extended detention, reflecting the seriousness with which authorities are treating the seizure of LeT-linked material alongside live weaponry.

Part of a Broader Anti-Terror Strategy

This arrest is part of a revised security strategy by the J&K Police and security forces that targets the entire support ecosystem of terrorism — not just armed militants. Overground workers and sympathisers who provide logistics, shelter, and propaganda materials are now a primary focus of operations.

Notably, the recovery of LeT posters alongside live ammunition suggests the accused may have been involved in both propaganda dissemination and weapons supply — a combination that security agencies describe as a hallmark of OGW activity.

Security Grid in J&K

While police conduct anti-terror operations within the hinterland, the Indian Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) guard the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border (IB) respectively. The LoC, stretching 740 km across Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Poonch, Rajouri, and parts of Jammu district, is guarded by the Army. The BSF secures a 240 km international border in Samba, Kathua, and Jammu districts.

According to security officials, terror outfits backed by elements across the border use drones to drop payloads of arms, ammunition, cash, and drugs, which are then collected by OGWs and funnelled to active militants — a pipeline that recent operations have sought to disrupt at every link.

With fresh arrests adding to a growing list of OGW detentions in recent months, the security establishment appears determined to choke off the logistical lifeline that sustains militancy in the region.