J&K police foils major terror plot: 360kg of IED material seized after doctor-turned-JeM operative’s tip-off; another medic detained

In a major breakthrough, Jammu and Kashmir Police, acting on revelations from an arrested doctor, Dr. Adeel Ahmad Rather, recovered 360 kg of inflammable material, possibly ammonium nitrate, and ammunition from Faridabad, Haryana. Addressing a press conference, Commissioner of Police, Faridabad, Satender Kumar said that a joint operation had been going on for the last 15 days. The investigation is still ongoing, he added, noting that further official information cannot be shared considering national security.

Listing the items seized, Kumar said, “One assault rifle with 3 magazines and 83 live rounds, one pistol with 8 live rounds, two empty cartidges, two additional magazines, 8 large suitcases, 4 small suitcases and a bucket from which approx 360 kgs of inflammable material has been recovered. It is suspected to be ammonium nitrate. 20 timers with batteries, 24 remotes, approx 5 kgs of heavy metal, walkie-talkie sets, electric wiring, batteries and other contraband material have been recovered. It is not RDX...It is not AK-47, it is assault rifle. It is like AK-47 but slightly smaller than it. But it is not AK-47...”

Dr. Rather, a medicine specialist and former resident in the Department of Medicine at Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, was arrested by Srinagar Police from Saharanpur over his alleged involvement in plastering propaganda posters of the banned terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) across the city last month.

A resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district and son of Abdul Majeed Rather, he had served at GMC Anantnag until October 24, 2024, before being transferred to Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, acting on precise intelligence, authorities backed by the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) Anantnag raided the college premises and recovered another assault rifle along with ammunition from Dr. Rather’s personal locker at GMC Anantnag.

Following his arrest, one more doctor was taken into custody for questioning. Both Dr. Rather and the seized rifle from the locker remain in Srinagar Police custody as investigators probe the weapons’ origins, the motives behind their possession, and potential links to broader terrorist activities. The second doctor arrested in the case has been identified as Mufazil Shakeel.