Jawan arrested with 2 grenades at Srinagar airport

An army jawan was on Monday arrested at the airport in Srinagar for carrying two grenades which he claimed were given to him by a “superior official” for transporting to Delhi.

Bhopal Mukhiya of 17 JAK Rifles, posted in Boniyar area of Uri sector in Kashmir, was taken into custody after the grenades were found in his baggage during screening at the main gate of the airport, an official of the anti-hijacking force said.

A resident of Darjeeling, Mukhiya was going home on leave.

He was to board a Delhi-bound chartered flight, the official said.

The jawan reportedly told the police that “the packet containing grenades was given to him by a superior official for handing it over to someone at the Delhi airport”.

A defence spokesman said action will be taken against the jawan as per the law.

“A soldier has been caught carrying grenades in a packet as reported by the airport authorities. The matter is under investigation. As per the law, the army will take action against the individual,” the defence spokesman said in a statement.

Director General of Police S P Vaid told reporters: “He will face action according to the law. Be it an army jawan, a policeman or a civilian, everyone will have to face action.”

Asked whether it was a hijacking bid, the DGP said: “I cannot say anything on that.”

Senior officials of the security wing of the state police refused to give more details about the case.

On the recovery of 14 mobile phones from a sub-jail in Baramulla on Sunday, the state police chief said it was a security breach.

"The mobile phones were recovered after a search. It is a security breach. We have seized them and they (inmates) will face action," he said.

Asked whether calls were made to Pakistan from those mobile phones, the DGP said the J&K Police's cyber team was probing the matter.

"Our cyber forensic team will fully investigate... will check all numbers and then action will be taken," he said.

Referring to Sunday's grenade attack in Nowhatta area of Srinagar in which a policeman was killed, the top cop said: "It is a reality that militants fire and lob grenades during stone-pelting protests. It is a way to engage the security forces."

With inputs from ANI

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