Says investigation unearthed larger conspiracy of Hizb militants, OGWs; they were attempting to revive militancy in Chenab Valley
Srinagar, May 15: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a charge sheet against six persons in murder case of Parihar brothers at Kishtwar in Jammu division.
NIA said that charge sheet has been filed in a case under number RC-36/2018/NIA/DLI, which relates to the murder of Anil Parihar (State Secretary of J&K of BJP) and his brother Ajeet Parihar at Kishtwar on 01.11.2018 by militants belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). “Initially, a case FIR No. 290/2018 dated 01.11.2018 was registered by J&K Police at PS Kishtwar. The case was subsequently taken over by NIA,” NIA said.
It added that during investigation, the accused persons indentified as Nisar Ahmed Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mustafa Sheikh, Nishad Ahmed Butt, son of Abdul Subhan Butt and Azad Hussain Bagwan, son of Abdul Latief Bagwan, all residents of Kishtwar (J&K) were arrested on 20.11.2019. “These three accused persons used to provide logistic support to the three militants identified as Osama-bin-Javid, Haroon Abbas Wani and Zahid Hussain, who had committed the murders of Parihar brothers,” NIA said.
NIA said that investigation unearthed the larger conspiracy of these militants and the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) who were attempting to revive militancy in the region of Chenab valley i.e. districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban. “These militants not only carried out the murder of Parihar brothers but they carried out three other acts also in Kishtwar in the year 2019” NIA said.
It said that in furtherance of the said conspiracy led by Jahangir Saroori, Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahjideen (HM) in Kishtwar District, the accused persons devised ways and means to raise funds to sustain the activities of the militant organisation. “Further they looted the weapons from Police/PSOs to enhance their armed strength,” NIA said.
NIA said that as per the investigation, three other accused persons who committed the said murders including Osama-bin-Javid of Sounder, Dachhan, Kishtwar, Haroon Abbas Wani of Doda and Zahid Hussain of Sounder Dachhan, Kishtwar were killed during different encounters that took place between the HM cadres and security forces in Districts Ramban and Doda in Sept. 2019 and Jan. 2020.
It added that the charge-sheet has been filed in the Special NIA Court, Jammu, J&K against the accused persons identified Osama-bin-Javid, Haroon Abbas, Zahid Hussain, Nisar Ahmed Sheikh, Nishad Ahmed Butt and Azad Hussain Bagwan under sections 302, 120B, 109 & 34 RPC, sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 38, 39 & 40 of the UA(P) Act, section 25(1A) & 25 of the Arms Act.
NIA said that further investigation continues against absconding accused Jahangir Saroori and other accused persons –(KNO)