An encounter specialist sub-inspector, who was instrumental in the killing of 68 militants in the Doda-Kishtwar belt, was Tuesday arrested for allegedly running a militant module in Jammu and Kashmir.
A recipient of President’s gallantry award, SI Shiv Kumar Sharma was arrested in Doda for his alleged involvement in militant activities, official sources said.
State minister for home Sajad Ahmed Kitchloo confirmed the arrest and told PTI that investigation is in progress.
Sharma, serving in the J&K police, was allegedly involved in running the militant module in Kishtwar district. The module was involved in the grenade attack on Thathri police station last month, sources said.
Nicknamed “Robin hood”, he was involved in large number of encounters and instrumental in killing 68 militants in Doda-Kishtwar belt.
He has received several awards including the President’s gallantry award.
The sources said the SI’s involvement came to light after five arrested ultras allegedly involved in the Thathri police station grenade attack claimed during police interrogation that Sharma provided weapons and explosive material to them.
The module was allegedly planning some political killings in the mountainous belt as well, they added.
The five suspected militants were arrested with heavy arms and ammunition on May 23 in connection with the botched plot to kill security personnel near Thathri police station in Doda district.
The police had alleged that the militants had planned to attack the security personnel by hurling grenade on the police station on the intervening night of April 27 and 28, but the grenade fell just short of the police station averting casualties.
Sharma had joined police as a Special Police Official (SPO) and got two out-of-turn promotions to reach to the rank of sub-inspector. He was posted in Special Task Force in Kishtwar district.