Policeman accused of extremist plot

Senior officer allegedly conspired to motivate Jammu and Kashmir locals to get terror training across border

Asenior police officer in Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) was arrested yesterday by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) for alleged conspiracy to motivate local youth to cross over into Pakistan for terror training.

Feroz Ahmad Lone, who hails from Budgam district of Kashmir, is currently posted as deputy superintendent at Ambphalla prison in Jammu. He was arrested along with militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen’s (HM) overground worker Ishaq Palla.

A special NIA court sent Lone to nine days custody of the investigative agency for allegedly conspiring with Palla at Srinagar Central Jail to send Kashmiri youths to Pakistan-administered Kashmir for terror training.

Lone appeared before NIA Special Judge Haq Nawaz.

The judge said the application moved was “genuine”.

“I heard and perused the file as an application for the remand. The prayer made by the NIA seems to be genuine and as such, the present application is allowed,” he said.

According to NIA, Lone and Palla had connived to send Danish Ghulam Lone and Suhail Ahmad Bhat to Pakistan-administered Kashmir for arms training.

At the time of the incident, Palla was lodged in Srinagar Central Jail in connection with a different case.

On October 30,2017, Danish Lone and Bhat were arrested by J& K Police near the Line of Control (LoC) while trying to cross over to PoK.

“Palla, a resident of Shopian, was instrumental in hatching the conspiracy from jail. He was assisted by Feroze Ahmad Lone, who was posted as Deputy Jail Superintendent Central Jail Srinagar at that time,” an NIA official said.

According to the National Investigating Agency, Lone and Palla were in contact with each other through Blackberry messenger throughout October 2017.

Meeting held at jail

Lone was arrested after Palla disclosed details of the former’s “active involvement” in sending youth to Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s terror camps to wage a war against India.

A meeting was held at Srinagar Central Jail on October 25, 2017 to hatch the conspiracy. According to NIA, Lone and Palla were in contact with each other through Blackberry messenger throughout the month of October 2017.

Palla has been remanded to ten days’ NIA custody.