SRINAGAR: The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday attached property of a militant operating from Pakistan in Kupwara district of north Kashmir's Kupwara district. 

"A land measuring 6 Kanals and 3 Marla belonging to one Adul Rashid Qureshi @Farooq Qureshi, a resident of Kachama, Kralpora Kupwara who is operating from Pakistan was attached by the SIU Kupwara following investigation of an FIR" reads a statement issued to GNS.

“Following extensive intelligence gathering and meticulous investigations in case FIR No.276/2022 of Police Station Kupwara registered under sections 120-B, 121, 121-A, 122, 123 IPC & 17, 18, 18-A, 18-B, 20, 38, 39, 40 of UA(P)A, the team of SIU Kupwara Police led to the identification and subsequent attachment of the militant property of land measuring 6 Kanals and 3 Marlas located at multiple locations within the district at village Kachama", reads the statement. 

"This measure taken by the Police aims to disrupt his illicit network and restrict his ability to carry out further acts of terror. It is pertinent to mention that Farooq Qureshi has been a persistent threat to peace and security of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the time he exfiltrated to Pakistan in early 1990s" reads the statement.

“He is a member of Al-Barq militant outfit and presently operating from PoJK as launching commander. Farooq’s strategic involvement in numerous acts of militancy has caused immense suffering and loss of innocent lives in the valley in the past. Jammu and Kashmir Police has been actively pursuing his acts to bring an end to his destructive activities", reads the statement.

"Police said the attachment of the property serves as a strong message to militants and their supporters that their actions will not go unnoticed or unpunished. It underscores the unwavering commitment of Jammu and Kashmir Police to combating militancy at its roots and dismantling its infrastructure", reads the statement further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: National Investigation Agency on Monday attached three immovable properties in the name of Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, who was arrested in 2017 by the premier Investigation Agency, at Baghatpora Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Official sources told GNS that land measuring 13.3 Marlas, 8.6 Marlas and 10.3 Marlas were attached this morning by team of NIA officials and people have been informed about it by erecting “notice of attachment” near the land.

The NIA has already attached Watali's house at Baghat Srinagar near Gurdwara on 31 May this year in connection with the case (RC-10/2017/NIA/DLI) on the orders by the special NIA court, Pataila House Courts, New Delhi. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: In consonance with the policy of the government for zero tolerance towards anti State activities, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) and the Executive Wing of J&K Police has widened the legal framework against terror funding by attaching 124 properties, land and buildings, situated across J&K at 86 locations.

These properties, during the course of investigation in militant related cases, have been established prima facia to be either proceeds of terrorism or used in such activities which are aimed at furtherance of terrorism and secessionism.

Invoking provisions of section 8 and section 25 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), SIA and executive wing of police, after orders from competent authorities designated under UAPA, have set into motion legal process for forfeiture of these tainted properties, by courts having relevant legal and territorial jurisdiction.

Nearly, 77 of these properties belong to proscribed organisation Jamat-e-Islami, which have been notified under Section 08 of UAPA in Case FIR number 17/2019 U/S 10, 11 and 13 UA (P) Act of Police Station Batamaloo being investigated by SIA.

Exhibiting strong resolve against terrorism, the action therefore has been taken following due process of law, to deracinate the terror support system, as per requirements of international charters and conventions against terrorism. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Intensifying its security crackdown in Kashmir, National Investigation Agency (NIA) Wednesday attached properties of three accused linked with various banned Pakistan-based militant organisations.

“The NIA has stepped up its vigil against militant outfits, their affiliates, agents and overground workers (OGWs) by conducting raids on properties of militant suspects and accused across locations, and has been moving swiftly to take action in such cases”, reads a statement issued to GNS.

“On Wednesday, the NIA attached the immovable properties of three accused in two different cases of militant activities involving members/cadres of proscribed militant organisations like the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), among others.”

“In the first case, NIA attached the immovable properties of two accused, Doulat Ali Mugal and Ishaq Pala, in Herman Shopian tehsil in Kashmir under the UA(P) Act”, reads the statement.

 “While Ishaq Pala, currently lodged in Central Jail Agra, was a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM)/Al-Badr militant organisation, Doulat Ali Mugal was an overground worker of the proscribed HM and is currently out on bail. The former, while in Central Jail Srinagar, had conspired with his co-accused, including Riyaz Naikoo and Doulat Ali Mugal, and assisted Danish Ghulam Lone and Suhail Ahmad Bhat to cross the border from Kupwara Sector to join militant ranks and wage a war against the State. Accused Doulat Ali Mugal had provided logistic support to accused Danish Ghulam Lone and Suhail Ahmad Bhat at Kupwara when both were about to cross the LoC”, reads the statement.

The duo, the statement reads, was chargesheeted by the NIA on 22nd February 2019 and charges were framed by the NIA Special Court Jammu on 6th August 2019.  “The properties attached on orders of NIA Special Court, include land measuring 5.5 Marla and 3.5 Marla under survey Nos.1597 Min and 1598 Min, including one double storey house of accused Doulat Ali Mugal located at Village Manigah Kupwara, and Immoveable property in the form of two rooms under the  ownership of accused Ishaq Pala at village Allora, Tehsil Herman, Shopian.”

“The NIA had launched investigations into the case in February 2018, and had busted a HM module of OGWs /militants. Others arrested and chargesheeted in the case were Danish Ghulam Lone, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Feeroz Ahmad Lone, while a key conspirator,  Reyaz Ahmad Naikoo, a top militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed in an encounter with the security forces”, reads the statement.

In the second case, the Agency, as per the statement, attached the immovable property of accused Fayaz Ahmad Magray, an Overground Worker of proscribed militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and currently lodged in District Jail Jhajjar, Haryana. The Property consisted of six shops constructed over land measuring 5.5 Marlas under survey No. 2664 Min at Lethpora, Pulwama, belonging to  the accused.

“Fayaz was chargesheeted on 1st August 2018 for conspiring, along with local/Pakistani militants of JeM, to execute a fidayeen attack on CRPF Group Centre Lethpora, Pulwama. He carried out a recce of the CRPF centre, and provided logistic support to JeM militants before and after the attack.”

“During the attack, two militants, Fardeen Ahmad Khandey and Manzoor Ahmad Baba, along with one Pakistani Abdul Shakoor, were killed inside the CRPF Group Centre Lethpora. Other key conspirator militants, namely Mudassir Khan and Sajjad @Mufti Waqas (Pakistani), were killed in subsequent encounters”, reads the statement.

“The NIA launched investigations in February 2018 into the criminal conspiracy to commit acts of militancy and violence in Kashmir. Its investigations led to the busting of a module of Overground Workers of JeM. Besides Fayaz Ahmad Magray, other accused arrested in the case were identified as Nissar Ahmad Tantray, Syed Hilal Andrabi, Irshad Ahmad Reshi.  All of them were subsequently chargesheeted by the NIA”, concludes the statement. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been directed by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to investigate the unauthorized leasing and usage of temple properties in the Kashmir region.

    Aadil Fareed, Assistant Commissioner under the Divisional Commissioner, has written to all deputy commissioners in Kashmir, quoting a communication received from the LG’s office.

    The letter requests the deputy commissioners to “identify any cases of illegal leasing of temple properties in your district and take appropriate action under the rules, while keeping this office informed. Additionally, please provide an updated inventory of Religious Minority Properties (such as temples, Gurdwaras, and others) to this office within one week.”

    A Kashmiri Pandit organization had earlier alleged that defunct trust members and some government employees have illegally sold or leased out temple properties in Kashmir.

    Against this backdrop, LG Manoj Sinha ordered SIT to probe into the illegal lease of temple properties and the nexus therein.

   Satish Mahaldar, Chairman JK Peace Forum told news agency Kashmir News Trust that the successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir took no initiative to protect the religious properties of Pandits.

    “Despite repeated court orders, temple properties have been illegally given on lease,” he said accusing Revenue Department of failing to safeguard the temple properties.

   Satish Mahaldar said that Government departments are among the offenders while nearly 25 kanals of temple land at Kohni-Khan Dalgate that was under the custody of the Deputy Commissioner’s office had been sold illegally. Similarly, the shrine at Gundo Nowroze, Anantnag, has been illegally occupied by the Education Department. The Shiv Temple on the premises of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution office, Srinagar, has been encroached upon and a shop constructed near the gate,” he claimed and added that Durga Nag land has been leased and rented out to over 170 tenants.

    At Bishambar Dass Temple in Barbarshah, over 17 kanals of land have been sold illegally and a hotel is coming up on that land. He said that a small temple opposite Gurudwara has been converted into Dhaba. [KNT]

SRINAGAR: State Investigation Unit of police on Tuesday said that it has attached a vehicle and a bike used for the transportation of arms and ammunition.

 In a handout to GNS, the police said that continuing its crackdown on militant elements, Special Investigation Unit (SIU-II) Srinagar today attached one TATA Motor vehicle bearing Registration No. JK15-2207 and Pulsar 200 Motorcycle bearing Registration No. JK13H-2452 in case FIR No. 41/2022 under section 7/25 AA Act & 13, 18, 20, 23, 39 & 39 UA (P)Act of PS Shaltang and case FIR No. 02/2023 under section 8/21 NDPS Act & 13, 18, 20, 38, 39 & 40 UA(P) Act of PS Kothibagh.

The police spokesman further stated that the said attachment orders were issued in an exercise of the power conferred U/S 25 read with 2 (g)( ii) UA(P) Act with the information to the designated authority for confirmation.

Worth to mention here that said TATA vehicle and Motorcycle were seized by Police on 20-11-2022 and 10-01-2023 in different two occurrences. The accused persons were transporting Arms, ammunition, Cash, Posters, Heroin, etc in order to support militant activities in the UT of J&K, he said.   

Accordingly, proceedings under section 25 UA(P) Act were initiated consequently accord of prior approval for attachment of the TATA vehicle & Motor cycle was received. During the investigation in both cases, six (6) accused persons have been arrested so far and an investigation with regard to the involvement of other persons is going on, reads the statement. (GNS)