0Srinagar, Dec 31: Police on Saturday attached a house and bakery shop in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district for harbouring militants.
“On 30 May 2022, Police in Awantipora received information through a credible source regarding presence of (militants) in the house of Jahangir Ahmad Lone and Umar Shafi Lone sons of Mohammad Shafi Lone of Check Rajpora Awantipora,” a police spokesperson said
Accordingly, he said input was shared with Army (42RR) and CRPF (130 Bn) and a joint cordon and search operation was launched.
As the joint operational parties were approaching to lay the cordon, he said, the suspected hiding militants fired indiscriminately with their illegally acquired arms and ammunition upon them and managed their forcible entry into the adjoining house belonging to one Parvaiz Hassan Misgar son of Ghulam Mohammad Misgar of Check Rajpora Awantipora. The cordon was tightened and all the possible escape routes were blocked to negate the escape of militants. Subsequently, he said, all the civilians trapped in the adjoining houses and target house were safely evacuated to safer location and the hiding militants were offered an opportunity to surrender, to which they ignored and fired indiscriminately upon joint operation parties.
The fire was effectively retaliated in “self-defence” and in the ensuing gunfight, two militants were killed and partial damage also caused to the house of Parvaiz Hassan Misgar. Later killed militants were identified as Shahid Ahmad Rather of Lurow Jageer linked with Jash-e-Mohammad and Umer Yousuf Seh of Tukroo Keegam Shopian linked with Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT).
Consequent, he said, upon this case (FIR No. 108/2022) under section 307,452-IPC,7/27 A.Act 16,18,19,20,38 & 39 UAP Act was registered in police station Awantipora and investigation was set into motion through SDPO Awantipora.
During the course of investigation, he said, involvement of Jahangir Ahmad Lone and Umar Shafi Lone came to fore and “working as militant associates providing shelter logistic/assistance to the neutralized (militants) for carrying terror activities in the area.” Accordingly, he said, both the accused were arrested in the instant case on 31 May 2022 and arrest memo prepared.
“During the course of investigation, on preliminary questioning both accused confessed and admitted that they provided shelter to the aforementioned neutralized (militants) in their bakery shop and residential house, accordingly confession memos of both the accused were recorded in presence of Executive Magistrate Awantipora.”
Accordingly, he said, process for attachment of property belonging to the accused falling within the ambit proceeds of militancy was initiated u/s 25 of UA(P) Act and necessary prior approval accorded by DGP J&K on 03 October last and the conformation related to the attachment of property u/s 25 of UA (P) Act was accorded by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on 1 December this year.
“In pursuance to the order and the powers conferred upon investigating officer u/s 25 UA(P) Act of 1967 property (residential house/bakery shop belonging to Mohammad Shafi Lone (father of involved accused) was attached.”
The spokesperson said that the general public was once again advised to not harbour or provide shelter or extend logistics to militant or their associates in their houses, “failing which strict legal action will be taken against anyone doing so.”
