Srinagar, July 06: National Investigation Agency filed a chargesheet against suspended DySP of police Devender Singh, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Naveed Babu, and four others on Monday.
Besides Singh and Syed Naveed Mushtaq alias Babu, the NIA filed Charge-sheet against Irfan Shafi Mir alias Advocate, Rafi Ahmad Rather (Hizb militant), Tanveer Ahmad Wani (ex-LoC trader) and Syed Irfan Ahmad (brother of Naveed Babu) under sections 120B, 121, 121A & 122 of the IPC, sections 17, 18, 18B, 19, 20, 23, 38, 39 & 40 of the UA (P) Act 1967, and 25 (1)(a) & 35 of Arms Act, section 4 & 5 of Explosive Substances Act in NIA Special Court at Jammu.
The case was initially registered at police station Qazigund on 11 January this year after apprehension of Syed Naveed Mushtaq, the then District Commander of Hizb for Shopian and Ganderbal, and Rafi Ahmad Rather along Devender Singh besides Irfan Shafi Mir alias Advocate near Al-Stop Naka, Qazigund while they were going out of Srinagar towards Jammu in the I20 car owned and driven by Irfan. During the search of vehicle, one AK-47 Rifle, three pistols and a cache of ammunitions and explosives were recovered, the NIA said. All the four accused were arrested by Police.
NIA took over the investigation of the case on January 17. During the course of investigation, these accused persons were interrogated thoroughly and searches were conducted at 15 places in Kashmir Valley as well as in Jammu, the NIA said.
“Three more accused persons namely Syed Irfan Ahmad, younger brother of accused Syed Naveed Mushtaq, accused Tanveer Ahmad Wani and Tariq Ahmad Mir were arrested in the case on 23.01.2020, 10.02.2020 and 29.04.2020 respectively for being part of the conspiracy to extend support to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen by way of raising and transferring funds to the (Hizb) militants, harbouring them and supplying them arms, ammunition and explosives to carry out subversive activities.”
The investigation, NIA said, has revealed that accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the “Pakistan-based militant organization Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Pakistani State Agencies to commit violent acts and to wage war against the Union of India.”
“The investigation has revealed that Pakistan based leadership of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen (HM) namely Sayeed Salahudeen, Amir Khan, Deputy Chief of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen, Khursheed Alam Operational Head of Hizbul Mujahideen, Nazar Mehmood Financial Head of Hizbul Mujahideen and others alongwith Pakistani establishment is extending support to the cadre and commanders of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen based in Jammu & Kashmir,” NIA claimed. “The investigation also revealed that accused Irfan Shafi Mir not only met Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leadership in Pakistan but also met Umar Cheema, Ahshan Chaudhary, Sohail Abbas and others of ISI of Pakistan and he was tasked to identify and activate the new hawala channels for transfer of money for sustaining militant activities in Kashmir valley.”
The investigation, NIA said, also revealed that certain officials of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were in constant touch with Irfan Shafi Mir who was provided with funds to organize seminars in J&K to mobilize the masses against Government of India. “Irfan Shafi Mir also used to receive instructions and money from Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and also facilitated the visa applications for number of Kashmiris for their visit to Pakistan.”
Accused Devender Singh was also in touch with certain officials of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi through secure social media platforms. “Investigation revealed that he was being groomed by Pakistani officials for obtaining sensitive information. Investigation has revealed that ex-police Constable Naveed Babu had deserted Police force alongwith certain weapons and was responsible for various killings, including incidents in which labourers and truck drivers were killed after the abrogation of Article 370 from J&K.” Naveed Babu had made efforts to recruit Muslims youths to join cadre of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, NIA said. “He was also receiving funds from LoC traders and accused Tanveer Ahmad Wani who was an Ex-President of LoC traders Association, was providing him funds with the help of other traders based in (PaK).”
The NIA said that its investigation has also revealed that the accused were obtaining weapons and ammunitions from across the border with the help of arms smugglers and accused Devender Singh. “These weapons were later used for militant activities,” it said, adding, “Investigation has further revealed that in Feb, 2019, in order to shield HM Commander Syed Naveed Mushtaq from the heightened surveillance of security agencies, accused Devender Singh arranged safe shelter for him and his associate in Jammu.”
Devender Singh used his own vehicle for the movement of Hizb militants and also assured them help in procuring weapons, it said.
“Investigation has further brought on record that the Pakistani establishment has been devising all possible ways and means to fund, arm and sustain the militant activities of the banned militant organization Hizbul Mujahideen,”, it said, adding., “Further investigation in the case is continuing against arrested accused Tariq Ahmad Mir and others in the case.”
