Arrested Kangan youth was going to join militancy: Police

Srinagar: Jammu and Police on Friday said the youth missing from Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district was prevented from joining a militant outfit.

A police spokesman said that Shafat Yousuf Malik of Thune Kangan was arrested along with arms and ammunition in Handwara.

“On a credible input, Handwara police along with security forces intercepted a person at a checkpoint near Chowgal and took him into custody. Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from his possession,” he said.

The spokesman said that Malik was provided with arms and ammunition by a militant group and was on way to join proscribed Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit.

With his arrest, he said, Malik was “restrained” from joining the militant outfit.

“A case FIR No. 87/2019 under relevant sections of law has been registered at P/S Handwara. Further investigation into the matter is going on,” he said.

Malik’s arrest comes a day after his parents made a passionate appeal for him to return home.