Srinagar: A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist who had been absconding for 18 years and carried a reward of ₹25,000 has been arrested in a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Moradabad Police.
In a statement issued here to news agency JKNS, the UP ATS confirmed the arrest of Ulfat Hussain alias Mohammad Saiful Islam alias Afzal alias Parvez alias Hussain Malik, a resident of Fazalabad, Surankote, Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. He was wanted in Case No. 1307/02, registered at Police Station Katghar, Moradabad, under IPC Section 307, Arms Act Section 25, POTA Sections 3/4/5, and Section 7 CLA Act.
The accused was previously arrested in 2001, and a large cache of weapons, including AK-47 and AK-56 rifles, pistols, grenades, explosives, detonators, and ammunition, was recovered from him.
The Moradabad court had issued a permanent warrant for his arrest in 2015, which was reissued on March 5, 2025.
Acting on intelligence gathered through technical and physical surveillance, a joint operation by the UP ATS Saharanpur Unit and Moradabad Police led to his arrest in Surankote, Poonch, on March 7, 2025.
As per the statement, Ulfat Hussain had undergone terrorist training in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) from 1999 to 2000 and had entered Moradabad with the intent to carry out a major terror attack.
Apart from the 2002 case, he was also named in Case No. 205/13 under Section 324 IPC at Police Station Surankote, Poonch.
The UP ATS and Moradabad Police have taken the accused into custody for further investigation, reads the Statement. (JKNS)
