Lucknow: In a major breakthrough after the Pulwama attack, two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were arrested from Deoband in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The two terrorists were identified as Shah Nawaz Teli, a resident of Kulgam district and Aqib Ahmad Malik, a resident of Pulwama from Jammu & Kashmir. 

Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) laid a trap and arrested the terrorists after weeks of investigation. "Both the terrorists were tasked with recruiting for JeM ranks and were attending a local college without taking an admission," Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh said.

also read CBI issued lookout circulars against Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar and Venugopal Dhoot

The terrorists have been identified as Shahnawaz Ahmad of Kulgam and Aqib Ahmad Malik of Pulwama. Confirming the reports, DGP OP Singh told, "ATS arrested active Jaish-e-Mohammed member Shahnawaz Ahmad Teli, one other from Deoband, Saharanpur. However, it is difficult to say whether two alleged JeM members arrested from UP came before Pulwama attack or after that." He added "Of the two Shahnawaz is said to be a grenade expert. We will seek transit remand and investigate when they came here from Kashmir and who is funding them and what was their target. We are in touch with Jammu and Kashmir Police,".

The development comes a day after the security forces on Monday neutralised the mastermind of February 14 Pulwama terror attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 40 personnel were martyred. Kamran, a resident of Pakistan, was eliminated after a 16 hour-long gun battle along with two other JeM terrorists. The encounter took place in Pulwama district where the CRPF convoy was attacked.

also read Sonam Kapoor Ahuja's husband Anand Ahuja shared how they make their long-distance marriage work

On February 14, a 19-year-old JeM terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden Scorpio into a bus plying with the 78-vehicle CRPF convoy snuffing the life of 40 CRPF jawans.