Three Jaish OGW wearing GPS anklets released on bail

Jammu: The J&K police have installed GPS anklets on three suspected Overground Workers (OGWs) of Jaish-e-Mohammed, who were granted interim bail after a court order.Mool Raj, Layaket Ali and Maqbool were jailed for the 2024 attack on an army convoy in Kathua, Jammu, in which five soldiers were killed. The release and anklets were carried out in compliance with the order of the Kathua principal district and sessions judge on Wednesday.The tracker is fixed around the ankle, enabling real-time location tracking and ensuring strict compliance with bail conditions. “The devices were installed under the supervision of SSP Mohita Sharma to ensure continuous monitoring of the movements of the accused,” a police spokesperson said.The three were arrested on July 25, 2024, when security agencies were searching for persons in the upper Kathua area who helped terrorists involved in the July 8 ambush incident that resulted in the casualties of five army personnel and an equal number of injuries.According to a police spokesman, Raj, Ali and Maqbool allegedly provided logistical support, including wireless network facilities, to the terrorists. They face multiple charges, including those related to waging war against the state and withholding critical information about terrorist attacks from law enforcement officials.Three people were arrested after police scanned and questioned more than 100 people. The spokesman said precautionary measures had been taken against more than 40 people to reduce further risks and disrupt any potential support systems for terrorist activities.In 2023, the J&K Police Department wore a GPS anklet on a terror suspect named Ghulam Mohd Bhat, becoming the first force in the country to use a GPS anklet. The United States, Britain, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have long used trackers to monitor suspects on bail, parole and house arrest, and in some cases to decongest prisons.