The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said they detained a suspected militant and his handler in Ganderbal district on Thursday.

“An active terrorist, Talha Umair alias Abu Hamza, affiliated with a proscribed terror outfit from Sehpora village in Ganderbal, who had joined the militancy earlier this year, has been detained with persistent efforts of district police Ganderbal and his family,” an unidentified police spokesperson told PTI.

The spokesperson said the handler identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Dar, also a resident of Sehpora, has been instrumental in persuading Umair to join militant ranks. Dar has been detained for questioning.

He claimed that a few more arrests are expected to be made in the case in the coming days. The spokesperson said the militant was involved in a case of weapon snatching near the Kashmir University at Hazratbal earlier this year.