Srinagar: A residential house in Khrew area of Awantipora which was a site of encounter between terrorists and security forces in August 2021 has been attached, police informed Wednesday.
Sharing details, police spokesman in a statement said that on August 19-20, 2021, police in Awantipora received information through reliable sources about the presence of a group of terrorists in the house of one Ghulam Ahmad Najar, son of Ghulam Mohammad Najar of Danak Mohala Khrew.
A joint cordon and search operation was launched along with troops of Army’s 50RR and CRPF 185 Bn.
“When the cordon was being laid, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the operation party, which was effectively retaliated leading to an encounter,” police said.
During the gun-battle “the terrorists by taking advantage of darkness managed to shift into the adjacent house belonging to Ghulam Nabi Najar, son of Ghulam Mohammad Najar.”
The encounter concluded “with the killing of two terrorists — Musaib Mushtaq Bhat, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, and Muzamil Ahmad Rather, son of Nazir Ahmad Rather, resident of Chakoora Pulwama — whose bodies were recovered from the site,” police spokesman said.
He said a case (FIR No. 57/2021 U/S 307-IPC 7/27 A. Act 16,18,20 & 38 UA(P) Act) was registered in Police Station Khrew and investigation was taken up.
During the course of investigation, “involvement of Nizam-ud-Din Najar, son of Ghulam Ahmad Najar, resident of Danik Mohalla Khrew (son of the house-owner) came to fore for providing of intentional harbouring and logistic support to the neutralized terrorists.”
He was subsequently arrested on August 21, 2021, for the commission of offences punishable under section 19 and 39 UA(P) Act which were invoked in the instant case.
Accordingly process under section 25 UA(P) Act for attachment of the house used by the accused Najar “for intentional harbouring of terrorists was initiated and submitted to the competent authority for prior approval,” spokesman said.
He said in pursuance to the said order and the powers conferred upon investigating officer under section 25 UA( P) Act of 1967, property i.e. residential house belonging to Ghulam Ahmad Najar, son of Ghulam Mohammad Najar, resident of Danak Mohala Khrew was attached.
“The general public is once again requested to not harbour or provide shelter or extend logistics to terrorists/terror associates in their houses, failing which strict legal action will be taken against anyone doing so,” the spokesman warned.
