Arrested JK cop to be tried as terrorist

A deputy superintendent of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, who was detained in a car along with two Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashker-e-Taiba militants in south Kashmir, was on Sunday booked under the Unlawful Activity Act and will be tried as a "terrorist". Addressing a press conference, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said, "We consider DSP Davinder Singh's involvement as a heinous crime and he will be dealt with in the same manner as the other arrested militants."

Singh was arrested on Saturday after the police intercepted his vehicle and found two militants inside it along with five grenades. The officials said Singh is alleged to have been ferrying the militants from Shopian area, possibly out of the Valley.

Two AK-47 rifles were also recovered in a subsequent raid at his house. He had served in many senior posts of the state police and was part of several anti-militancy operations.

The IG, however, ducked questions about the identity of the owner of the vehicle in which the two militants and Singh were arrested. "We are verifying the antecedents of the owner of the car," Kumar said.

On a question about reports claiming Singh's role in ferrying Afzal Guru, hanged for his involvement in the Parliament attack, to Delhi, the IG said: "There are no such records. However, the police will look into the matter." The DSP was posted with the anti-hijacking unit at Srinagar Airport and was one of the officials that received the 16-member delegation of foreign ambassadors which visited Kashmir on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in a separate encounter in Tral, three "most wanted" Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed on Sunday.