J& K scribe faces terror charge
Chargesheet against 7 others for harbouring, conspiring with militants
New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir police has filed a chargesheet against eight people, including journalist Aasif Sultan, for allegedly harbouring militants and conspiring with terror group Hizbul Mujahideen, officials said on Thursday.
New Delhi, Feb. 7: The Jammu and Kashmir police has filed a chargesheet against eight people, including journalist Aasif Sultan, for allegedly harbouring militants and conspiring with banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen, officials said on Thursday.
The police had registered a case after militants had escaped from a residential area of Batmaloo in August last year after firing indiscriminately at a police searching party. Constable Parvaiz Ahmad had died in the attack.
Besides the journalist, the police also chargesheeted Mohammed Shafeeq Bhat, Waseem Khan, Bilal Ahmed Bhat and Shazia under various sections, including those relating to murder, of the Ranbir Penal Code and the Arms Act.
Three absconding, active militants of Hizbul Mujahideen — Abbas Sheikh, Aqib Nazir and Tehseen Ahmed — have been named in the chargesheet.
The J& K police has secured prosecution sanctions under the Unlawful
Activities Prevention Act against all the accused named in the chargesheet.
During preliminary investigation, the involvement of Mohammed Shafiq Bhat and Wasim Ahmed Khan was established in harbouring the militants in Bhat’s house.
They were arrested and thoroughly questioned to unearth the conspiracy during which the identity of the escaped militants was ascertained as Umar Rashid, Umar Majeed and Aqib Nazir — belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen.
Khan, during interrogation, also mentioned that the group of militants was involved in snatching of weapons from Dalgate area on May 17 last year.
He also named Aasif Sultan, Bilal Ahmed Bhat, an employee of Government Medical College, and Shazia as over ground workers of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group.
Shazia, during her questioning, also gave a statement on the involvement of all the five persons, including the journalist, in various terror activities.
The police had registered a case after militants had escaped from a residential area of Batmaloo in Aug. last year after firing indiscriminately at a police searching party