Jammu and Kashmir police Saturday busted a gang of four youth who were masquerading as militants on highways and looting non-state truckers by showing toy pistols and dummy guns to them. Police said that three persons have been arrested while as fourth one is still on the run.

Addressing a press conference at police Parimpora on Srinagar outskirts here, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)Srinagar, Dr Haseeb Mughal said since past many days, police have been receiving back to back complaints since past many days about some youth looting non-Kashmiri truckers on Parimpora highway.

“We have arrested three youth including the ring leader of the group who were stopping trucks with non J&K numbers.They would threaten the drivers by showing them dummy AK 47 guns and toy pistol and demand money,” the SSP Srinagar said.

He identified the three arrested youth asAqib Mushtaq a resident of Pamposh Colony, Noor bagh Srinagar and his two associates as Rameez Dar of Palpora, Noorbagh and  Shabir Ahmed Fakhtoo of Boatmen Colony,Bemina. The SSP said that their fourth accomplice is still at large.

“After interrogating them, two dummy AK-47 guns, a toy pistol and a knife has been recovered from them. The group has looted Rs 2.84 lakh and some jewelry from t heir possession,” said the SSP who was flanked by SP West Mushim Chowdhary and other police officials. “We have recovered Rs 14200 from them as they have spent the rest of the looted amount else where.”

As per media, the SSP said that the latestincident by this gang was reported on December 11 but they were active sincepast four months especially August 5. “After receiving the complaints, we tookthe matter seriously and thought the issue may be linked with militancy. FourFIRs were registered in district Srinagar in this regard,” he said.

He said that it took 20- days to the policeteam to investigate the matter in a very professional manner. “Afterinvestigating the matter thoroughly, we found that this case was not linked tomilitancy,” he said.