Tightening its noose in the case of suspended J&K Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Davinder Singh and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at several locations in Jammu & Kashmir's Baramulla district.
An NIA official privy to the development told IANS, "NIA is conducting raids in different parts of Baramulla in Hizb commander Naveed Babu-Davinder Singh DSP case." He said that multiple teams of the NIA conducted searches at multiple locations in Baramulla-Uri and one location in Srinagar in connection with Naveed Babu and cross-border trade case.
The spokesperson said that in Hizbul Mujahideen case, houses of Azad Ahmad Pir in Uri and Hallema Begum in Baramulla, Shaheen Lone also a resident of Baramulla and working as an inspector in Power Development Department, along with Lone's father-in-law's house at Waza Mohalla, Palhalan in Baramulla, Tariq Mir's wife Shareen Bibi and Tafazul Parimoo a resident of Budgam, were also searched by the NIA.
They are close associates of accused Tariq Mir, who was arrested by NIA on April 29 this year for his role in smuggling and supply of weapons to Hizb terrorists. During the searches several incriminating documents and digital devices have been seized from their residences. The NIA has named Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu, Irfan Shafi Mir, Rafi Rather, Tanveer Ahmad Wani, and Syed Irfan in its chargesheet, besides Davinder Singh.
The suspended police officer is lodged in Kathua jail at Hiranagar in the Jammu division. He was arrested by the police on January 11 on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while transporting two Hizb terrorists -- Naveed Babu and Rafi Ahmad Rather -- and a law school dropout Irfan Shafi Mir to Jammu.
Naveed's brother Irfan was arrested on January 23 for his 'role' in the conspiracy while Wani came under the scanner for allegedly giving money to Naveed, a former Special Police Officer of J&K who had joined the terrorist ranks. After the arrest of Singh, initial investigations were done by the J&K Police before the case was handed over to the NIA. Police had said that the two terrorists and the lawyer had planned to travel to Pakistan.
The NIA had earlier claimed that its probe revealed that the accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Hizb and Pakistan to commit violent acts and to wage war against India. "The investigation has revealed that Pakistan-based leadership of the Hizb, namely Syed Salahuddin, Amir Khan, Khursheed Alam, Nazar Mehmood, and others, along with the Pakistani establishment is extending support to the cadres and commanders of the terror outfit based in Jammu & Kashmir."
"The probe also revealed that accused Irfan Shafi Mir alias 'Advocate' not only met Hizb leadership in Pakistan but also met Umar Cheema, Ahshan Chaudhary, Sohail Abbas, and others of the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan. He was tasked to identify and activate the new 'hawala' channels for the transfer of money to sustain terror activities in the Kashmir Valley," a NIA spokesperson had earlier said.
The NIA had also claimed that its investigation revealed that certain officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were in constant touch with Mir alias Advocate, who was provided with funds to organise seminars in J&K to mobilise the masses against the government of India. Mir allegedly used to receive instructions and money from the Pakistan High Commission, and he facilitated the visa applications of a number of Kashmiris for their Pakistan visits.
Even Davinder Singh was said to be in touch with certain Pakistan High Commission officials through secure social media platforms. Investigation revealed that he was "being groomed by the Pakistani officials for obtaining sensitive information". Singh was posted with the anti-hijacking wing of the Jammu & Kashmir Police in Srinagar, and was part of the security staff that had received a group of foreign diplomats who visited Kashmir.
On June 19, a Delhi court had granted bail to Davinder Singh in a terror case after the Delhi Police failed to file a chargesheet against him and co-accused within the stipulated time. The NIA spokesperson further said that in the illegalities in the LoC trade case, the agency carried out raids at the premises of Peer Arshid Iqbal alias Ashu in Baramulla, who is currently lodged in Kathua jail in Jammu in a narcotics case, Tariq Ahmad Sheikh also a resident of Baramulla and proprietor of Sheikh Brothers and Hamid Brothers, Baramulla, also currently lodged in Baramulla jail in a narcotics case, Bashir Ahmad Sofi, a district level Hurriyat Leader and Abdul Hamid Lone, a resident of Sopore and his Asha Traders.
During searches at their premises, the NIA team recovered several incriminating documents and digital devices.
(With inputs from IANS)
