Govt orders prosecution against ‘team of militants’ tasked to snatch weapons from forces
Srinagar, April 13: The government has ordered prosecution of a “team of militants” who it said were tasked by Lashkar-e-Toiba to target government forces for snatching arms and ammunition in Qazigund area of south Kashmir.
According to an order by principal secretary of state’s home department, on 13 July last year, Police Station, Qazigund received information through reliable sources to the effect that a group of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants particularly Azad Dada of Arwani have constituted a team of militants Qazigund in order to target the government forces for snatching of arms and ammunition.
The team, the order says, was also intending to motivate the youth to join the militant organization. “A group of OGWs lead by Sartaj Ahmad Dar of Sopat, Mohammad Abbas Dar of Ganjipora , Abdul Qayoom Wani of Ganjipora, Masood Ahmad Bhat of Cheddar, Khalid Showkat Ganie of Zadoora, Zaffer Ahmad Rather of Sopat, Owais Ahmad Khan of Furrah etc are facilitating, aiding supporting and providing arms ammunition to militants for committing subversive activities in the State,” reads the order, a copy of which lies with GNS.
“This conspiracy on part of the accused persons is a threat to the security and integrity of State as well as Country,” it says. Further, the OGWs were providing weapons to the organization from unknown sources for committing unlawful activities etc, it says.
Subsequently, a case (FIR No 164/2018) was registered at Police Station Qazigund and further investigation was taken up.
“During the course of investigation accused Sartaj Ahmad was apprehended “who disclosed that he along with other accused persons Mohammad Abbas Dar, Abdul Qayoom Wani, Masood Ahmad Bhat, Khalid Showkat Ganie, Zaffer Ahmad Rather, Owais Ahmad Khan, Masroor Ahmad, Wasim Rather has made a group on the instructions of militants Azad Dada and Shakoor Ganie to work as Over Ground Workers of Lashkar-e-Toiba and to provide arms and ammunition to the (militants).”
After collecting “evidence”, the government in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 45 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the State Government accorded sanction for launching prosecution against the accused persons—Sartaj Ahmad Dar, Mohd Abbass Dar, Abdul Qayoom Wani, Gh Hassan Wani, Khalid Showkat Ganie, Aamir Ahmad Thoker, Salaal Amad Ganie alias Shakoor Ahmad Ganie of Chadder, Azad Ahmad Malik alias Dada, Waseem Ahmad Rather , Dawood Ahmad Dar, Masood Nulled Bhat and Zaffar Ahmad Rather for the commission of offences punishable u/s 13(2), 18,19,38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,1967.
Six of them have been arrested while proceedings under 512 CrPC have been launched against rest of them, the order adds. (GNS)
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