NIA Files Charge Sheet Against 25 Kashmiris in Militancy Case

“The investigation established that all these pseudo-outfits are in fact offshoots/rechristened versions of militant organisations based in Pakistan and have been floated under a deep-rooted conspiracy to portray militancy in J&K as a home-grown insurgency.”

SRINAGAR — National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India on Friday said that it has filed a charge sheet against 25 accused in the special NIA court in New Delhi in connection with the JK militancy conspiracy case.

“Chargesheet has been filed against Bashir Ahmed Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam S/o Sikandar Pir R/o Punzgam, Kupwara, JK, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 18B, 19, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the UA(P) Act. Imtiyaz Kundoo alias Fayaz Sopore S/o Abdul Khaliq Kundoo R/o Krelteng Sopore, District Baramula, JK, under sections 120B and 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 18B, 19, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the UA(P) Act,” the statement said.

“Bilal Ahmed Mir alias Bilal Fafoo S/o Ghulam Mohammad Mir R/o Gulbagh Colony, Parimpora, Srinagar, JK under sections 120B and 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 18B, 19, 20, 38, 39, and 40 of the UA(P) Act.”

“The NIA said that the charge has been filed against Owais Ahmed Dar S/o Abdul Khalid Dar R/o Village Gulbugh, Kakapora, Pulwama, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. “…. And against Tariq Ahmed Dar S/o Ghulam Qadir Dar R/o No. 33, Solina Bala, PS Shergarhi, Srinagar, J&K, under sections 120B and 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Tariq Ahmed Bafanda S/o Ghulam Ahmed Bafanda R/o Gani Memorial Stadium, Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act,” the statement said.

“Mohd. Haneef Chairalu S/o Ghulam Rasool Chairalu R/o 57, Bagh Sunder Payeen, Karan Nagar, PS Safa Kadal, Srinagar, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Hanan Gulzar Dar S/o Gulzar Ahmad Dar R/o Firdausabad, Batmaloo, Srinagar, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act.”

The statement said that a charge sheet has also been filed against Mateen Ahmed Bhat S/o Manzoor Ahmed Bhat R/o Village Pudsoo, District Shopian, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act

“… Kamran Ashraf Reshi S/o Mohd Ashraf Reshi R/o Khimber, Reshipora Hazratbal, near Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, J&K under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Rayid Bashir S/o Bashir Ahmad Bhat R/o Tibetian Colony, PS- Safakadal, Eidgah Srinagar, J&K under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Mohd. Manan Dar alias Manan S/o Gulzar Ahmed Dar R/o Lane No.01, Firdausabad, Balmaloo, Srinagar, J&K under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Zamin Adil Bhat S/o Adil Ahmed Bhat R/o Munawarabad, Ikhwan Chowk, Srinagar, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act,” the statement said.

“Hariis Nisar Langoo S/o Nisar Ahmed Langoo R/o Khanyar, Near Sher-e-Khas gate, Gousia Colony, PS Khanyar, Distt Srinagar, J&K under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Rouf Ahmad Bhat S/o Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat R/o 03 Lone Mohalla Village Bewora, Bijbehara, PS Srijufwara, District Anantnag, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Sobiya Aziz Mir alias Mariyam-Al-Kashmiri D/o Abdul Aziz Mir R/o Parimpora, PS Parimpora, Tehsil & District Srinagar, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Amir Ahmad Gojree S/o Mohd. Ramzan Gojree R/o Sammarbok, New Colony, PS Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act.”

The statement said that those charged also include Sadaat Amin Malik alias Syed Arhan S/o Mohd. Amin Malik R/o Baba Raza, Ps Tarzoo Amargarh, Sopore, Distt Baramulla, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. “Ishfaq Amin Wani alias Rehan Amin Wani S/o Mohd. Amin Wani R/o Bemina, Hamdania Colony, Srinagar, J&K under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Rashid Muzafar Ganai S/o Muzaffar Ganai R/o Shalpora PS- Sopore, Distt.- Baramulla, J&K under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 19, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act,” the statements said.

Nashir Ahmad Mir S/o Ghulam Nabi Mir R/o Model Town- B, Sopore, Distt.- Baramulla, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. Irfan Tariq Antoo S/o Tariq Ahmad Antoo R/o Kralteng, Sopore, Baramulla, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act and section 25(1A) of the Arms Act. Suhail Ahmad Thokar S/o Abdul Rashid Thokar R/o Village Hadigam, District Kulgam, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act.”

It also includes Adil Ahmad War S/o Ghulam Mohd War R/o Anchar, Soura, Srinagar, J&K under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act. “Arif Farooq Bhat S/o Farooq Ahmad Bhat R/o 10 Syedabad, Bemina, Srinagar, J&K, under sections 120B & 121A of the IPC and sections 18, 20, 38 & 39 of the UA(P) Act,” the statement said

It said that the case pertains to the hatching of conspiracy both physical as well as cyberspace for undertaking violent militant acts in JK and other parts of the country, by cadres of proscribed militant organisations like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr and their affiliates such as the Resistance Front (TRF), People Anti-Fascist Forces (PAFF), etc.

“Investigation has unearthed a deep-rooted conspiracy of Pakistan based militant organisations joining hands in form of a united group and shifting of their modus operandi by floating pseudo offshoot outfits portrayed as indigenous resistance groups, in whose name militant acts are being committed with an intention to claim deniability at the international level, the statement said.

It said after the abrogation of article 370, this shift was discernible in claims of militant acts done in JK.

Many affiliate/offshoots outfits such as The Resistance Front (TRF), People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF), United Liberation Front J&K ULF J&K, Muslim Janbaaz Force (MJF), Kashmir Janbaaz Force (KJF), Kashmir Tigers, Kashmir Fight, Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind, Kashmir Gaznavi Force, etc had suddenly mushroomed, laying claims to various militant acts,” the statement said.

It added that the investigation established that all these pseudo-outfits are in fact offshoots/rechristened versions of militant organisations based in Pakistan and have been floated under a deep-rooted conspiracy to portray militancy in J&K as a home-grown insurgency.

“A well-organized propaganda machinery operating on cyberspace through various websites, blogs, Social media handles, closed channels on encrypted communication platforms, etc. wherein concocted and skewed narrative is presented to impressionable and Pak-based nodes have been used to radicalize youth. The investigation has revealed that all this media propaganda of different militant outfits was epicenter around common nodes operating from Pakistan,” the statement said.

The statement added that a key element of the aforementioned conspiracy was inducting new cadres in form of ‘Hybrid militants’ belonging to various walks of life, who could use their cover to remain rooted in the society and simultaneously carry out instructions of their militant handlers.

“While acting as an OGW, they were also found indulging in militant actions such as grenade lobbing, undertaking lone attacks on vulnerable targets, arson, etc. The investigation has also revealed a clear shift in the strategy of the militant organization towards targeted killings of minorities, civilians, migrants, government officials, and unguarded security personnel,” the statement said, adding that further investigation into the case continues.