Srinagar, March 16
A 28-year-old government employee from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district has been arrested for allegedly helping the two foreign militants for carrying the recent Fidayeen (suicide) attack in Bemina which left five CRPF men dead.

Pradeep Singh, son of Bhupindar Singh of Chek Kanispora Baramulla, is the third persons to be arrested by the Special Operation Group of the J&K police during the investigations of the Bemina attack on Wednesday.

J&K police says names of a few more persons have surfaced during the questioning of the Pakistani militant Abu Talha, local guide Bashir Ahmed Mir, a surrendered militant and Pradeep Singh.

“Singh is posted as a Sanitary Inspector in the state health department in Tangmarg. He provided logistical support to the three foreign Fidayeen and hosted them for 24 hours at his work place,” said a police officer privy to the investigations.

“Singh was detained by police from Baramulla on Saturday. He was being questioned at the SOG headquarters in Srinagar.” Police sources said initial questioning of Singh has revealed that he helped the foreign militants in lieu of money.

Police sources said initial questioning of Singh has revealed that he helped the foreign militants in lieu of money. Singh hosted the three Fidayeen militants and Bashir Ahmed Mir at Tangmarg in Baramulla district from where militants travelled to the city to carry out Fidayeen attack after a gap of three years.

“Singh was close to Bashir Mir. They knew each other from quite some time. Singh had a shady past. In fact, he was also arrested in Jammu almost eight years ago in a fake currency case,” police sources said. “We are investigating whether Singh was privy to the militant plans of carrying Fidayeen attack or not, but it is sure that he knew that they were foreign militants,” he added. His family, however, said he was forced by militants to give them accommodation.

“He was forced by militants to provide them accommodation,” said Singh’s wife Harmeet Kour at Kanispora residence.