Chandigarh: Three terrorists of al-Umar outfit operating in Kashmir valley were on August 12 arrested from Punjab's Patiala district, a senior police official said.

The three terrorists were arrested from Samana area during night domination operation and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from them, Patiala senior superintendent of police Paramraj Singh said.

Police signalled two cars to stop for checking in the wee hours on August 12. While the driver of one car drove away without paying heed, the other car was stopped by throwing barricades in front of it, Singh said.

All the three occupants of the car were taken into custody and on interrogation, they told the police that they belonged to the al-Umar outfit, he said.

The terrorists have been identified as Shakir ur Rehman, Farooq Ahmad Bhatt (both from Srinagar) and Jang Bahadur Singh from Khuda village in Patiala, the SSP said. One .445 pistol with seven cartridges, 125 cartridges of AK 47, .32 bore revolver and its 20 cartridges, besides uniform and badges of police personnel were recovered from their possession.

They were in Samana area to attend a meeting convened by Bhindranwale Tiger Force commander Gurvinder Singh alias Kala, he said. They had contacts with self-styled lieutenant general of Khalistan Commando Force Avtar Singh. They also wanted to supply arms and ammunition to Avtar Singh and Kala. "They used to sell AK 47 at a price of Rs 80,000 in the area."

Both Kala and Avtar Singh, wanted by police in several cases including murder, are absconding, he said.

PTI