3 arrested in Poonch blast case, HM militant still absconding

Three persons including a main accused have so far been arrested in connection with a blast that took place in Poonch last month, a senior police official said.
"Police have so far arrested three people involved in the blast in Poonch while a Hizbul militant is still absconding", DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range, A K Atari, told PTI.
DIG said that they have been booked for their involvement in Dhar Ghaloon blast in Poonch that took place on the intervening night of June 24 and 25.
Those arrested have been identified as Irfan Ahmad, main accused and a resident of Dhar Ghaloon (Mendhar); Mohammad Khaliq and Farooq Ahmed, both residents of the same village, the DIG said.

"A top Hizbul militant, Abdul Majeed Dar, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar of Nagri, Kupwara was still absconding and hunt to track him down is on", he said.
"Soon after the blast, we constituted a team headed by a district SP of Poonch that finally succeeded in getting hold of one of the accused named Irfan along with one more militant. During interrogation the accused revealed about his connection with a militant in the area of Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir district)," Atri said.

"While taking them in a police van they managed to escape somehow but were re-arrested them with the help of Jammu and Kashmir police," he added.

"The district police was investigating the matter, and few days ago, the accused was arrested from the area of Batmaloo", he said.
He was kept in the custody of Poonch police team, when with the "help of locals" he escaped from Batmaloo. The police launched another drive and he was again arrested and brought to Poonch police station.
Police was working on to arrest others including one hardcore surrendered militant of Kashmir Valley as well as others involved in this conspiracy, the DIG of Poonch, Rajouri said.