Moradabad: In a significant breakthrough, a terrorist associated with the banned militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has been arrested after evading authorities for 17 years. The operation was carried out jointly by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from Saharanpur and the Kathgarh Police. The accused, identified as Ulfat Husain, was apprehended from the Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Ranvijay Singh provided details of the case, revealing that Husain was taken into custody and subsequently produced in court. This is not his first run-in with the law, as he was previously arrested in 2002 along with four others. At the time, a substantial cache of arms and explosives, including detonators and pistols, was recovered from him. However, after serving a few years in custody, he was released in 2008 on remand.
Speaking to ANI, SP City Ranvijay Singh elaborated on the arrest, stating, “In a coordinated operation between the Saharanpur ATS and the Kathgarh police, a terrorist named Ulfat Husain, affiliated with the Hizbul Mujahideen, was successfully captured in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. We have presented him before the court.”
Despite being released on remand in 2008, Husain failed to comply with legal proceedings and repeatedly ignored summons and warrants issued against him. His non-compliance led to the issuance of a permanent warrant that was valid for the next 50 years. Additionally, the authorities had declared a reward of ₹25,000 for information leading to his arrest.
“After his release on remand, he persistently refused to appear in court. Summons and warrants were issued multiple times, but he remained in hiding. A permanent warrant for the next 50 years was issued against him, and the police, along with the ATS, had been making concerted efforts to trace him. Based on fresh intelligence inputs, we were finally able to locate and arrest him,” SP Ranvijay Singh further stated.
Following his arrest, the police have launched an extensive investigation to gather more information regarding his activities and potential associates. Officials are exploring whether he maintained connections with any other extremist elements during his years in hiding.
The arrest of Ulfat Husain comes against the backdrop of the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) actions against Hizbul Mujahideen operatives. Earlier in 2024, the NIA attached properties belonging to members of the terror outfit in connection with the targeted killing of Adoora-Kulgam Sarpanch Nasir Rashid Bhat.
As part of their crackdown, the NIA secured judicial orders under Section 33(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1947. The property of Nasir Rashid Bhat, which included a residential house in Tengpora village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, was seized on orders of the NIA Special Judge in Jammu. The investigation established that the accused, in collaboration with other members of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist organization, was directly involved in the assassination of the Sarpanch on March 11, 2022. The attack was carried out to instill fear and spread terror among the local population.
Authorities believe that the arrest of Husain could provide crucial leads in ongoing anti-terror investigations. Law enforcement agencies continue to conduct detailed interrogations to uncover further links, track down his network, and ensure that justice is served. The case marks another significant step in the fight against terrorism and highlights the persistent efforts of Indian security forces in neutralizing threats posed by extremist groups.
