Police attach property in Awantipora for ‘sheltering terrorists’
Srinagar: Police on Saturday said it has attached property in Awantipora after it was found that two terrorists, killed in an encounter in May this year, were given shelter by the family.
“On May 30, 2022, police in Awantipora received information through a credible source regarding the presence of terrorists in the house of Jahangir Ahmad Lone and Umar Shafi Lone, sons of Mohammad Shafi Lone, resident of Check Rajpora Awantipora,” a police spokesman said in a statement.
Accordingly, police said the input was shared with Army (42RR) and CRPF (130 Bn) and a joint cordon and search operation was launched.
“As the joint parties were approaching to lay the cordon, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately with their illegally acquired arms/ammunition 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 statement said.
“The cordon was tightened and all possible escape routes were blocked. Subsequently, all the civilians trapped in the adjoining houses and the target house were evacuated to safer locations and the hiding terrorists were offered an opportunity to surrender, which they ignored and fired indiscriminately upon joint operation parties,” police said.
In the ensuing encounter, “two terrorists were killed” while the house of Parvaiz Hassan Misgar was also partially damaged. After the encounter, “dead bodies of two terrorists were recovered from the encounter site, who were later on identified as Shahid Ahmad Rather of Lurow Jageer linked with JeM, and Umer Yousuf Seh of Tukroo Keegam Shopian linked with LeT.”
A case (FIR No. 108/2022 U/Ss 307,452-IPC,7/27 A.Act 16,18,19,20,38 & 39 UAP Act) was registered in Police Station Awantipora and further investigation initiated, which pointed to the “involvement of Jahangir Ahmad Lone and Umar Shafi Lone, owners of a bakery shop/residential house in sheltering the slain terrorists,” police said
“It also came to fore that they were working as militant associates providing shelter logistic assistance to the aforementioned neutralized terrorists for carrying terrorist activities in the area,” police said.
Accordingly, police said that both the accused were arrested in the instant case on May 31, 2022 and an arrest memo was prepared.
During the course of the investigation, “on preliminary questioning both accused confessed and admitted that they provided shelter to the aforementioned neutralized terrorists in their bakery shop/residential house,” police said, adding that confession memos of both the accused were recorded in presence of Executive Magistrate Awantipora.
Police said the process for attachment of property belonging to the accused falling within the ambit of “proceeds of terrorism” was initiated under sections 25 of UA(P) Act and “necessary prior approval accorded by DGP J&K (vide PHQ order No.3420 of 2022 dated 03.10.2022) and the conformation related to the attachment of property Under Section 25 of UA (P) Act was accorded by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir (vide order No. Divcom-K/Rtn/39/2022 dated 01-12-2022).”
Police said in pursuance to the said order and the powers conferred upon investigating officer Under Section 25 UA( P) Act of 1967, property — including a residential house, and bakery shop belonging to Mohammad Shafi Lone (father of the involved accused) was attached.”
Meanwhile, police appealed to the general public to not harbor or provide shelter or extend logistics to terrorists or their associates in their houses, failing which strict legal action will be taken against anyone doing so.
Boundary wall of Hizb commander’s house demolished in Anantnag
An extended portion of the house of a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander was demolished in Anantnag, officials here said on Saturday.
According to authorities, Ghulam Nabi Khan alias Amir Khan had a boundary wall built on encroached land as an extension to his house in Liver Pahalgam in the south Kashmir district.
“Khan is a self-styled operational commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and had crossed over to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the early 1990s and is operating from there,” they said.
The action follows the razing down of the house of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist Ashiq Ahmad Nengroo in the Rajpora area of Pulwama earlier this month.
