Budgam Solider’s Killing: One LeT associate arrested, 3 other militants involved in crime identified: IGP Kashmir

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police Monday said that militants had killed the soldier who was on leave in Budgam and so far one LeT associate has been arrested while three other militants have been identified.
“Case of death of soldier Sameer Ahmad Malla of Khag Budgam turned to be #terror act of #abduction & #murder. Associate of LeT outfit involved in the crime arrested. Other 03 LeT #militants involved also identified & shall soon be dealt under law,” IGP Kashmir, tweeted.
A police spokesman in a statement issued here on Monday said that Police in Budgam arrested a militant associate linked with LeT involved in the abduction followed by killing of Army soldier in Budgam. “On March 7, Police Station Khag had received information about missing of an soldier namely Sameer Ahmad Malla from his residence. Accordingly, after lodging a formal missing report, the search to trace the missing Jawan was launched. During the search it was on 10th of March 2022 that police learnt about the digging of fresh soil at a spot between village Larkipora and Labran Khag and accordingly his dead body was recovered from the spot. After recovery of the dead body a proper case under relevant sections of law was registered and investigation was vigorously taken up,” the police spokesman said.
He said that during the course of investigation, specific leads were generated which led to one suspect identified as Ather Illahi Sheikh. “During questioning, he confessed that on 6th March, three militants of LeT came to his house and stayed there for night and next day pursuant to a well-knit conspiracy the Sameer Ahmad Malla was called by the militant associate Ather Illahi to his residence where from he was kidnapped by all the four and thereafter was taken to the spot where from the body was ultimately retrieved,” the spokesman said.
He said that after killing the Sameer, the militant associate Ather Illahi Sheikh got the shovel from his house which was used to bury the body. “The shovel was also recovered by the investigating team. Further investigation into the case is vigorously going on,” the spokesman said.