NIA Files Charge Sheet against Hizb militant Naveed Babu, Devender Singh

In a statement to to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), the NIA said that it filed charge-sheet against six accused persons namely Syed Naveed Mushtaq @ Naveed Babu (Hizbul Mujahideen militant), Irfan Shafi Mir @ Advocate, Devender Singh (DySP, J&K Police), Rafi Ahmad Rather (HM militant), Tanveer Ahmad Wani (ex-LoC trader) and Syed Irfan Ahmad (brother of Naveed Babu) under sections 120B, 121, 121A & 122 of the IPC, sections 17, 18, 18B, 19, 20, 23, 38, 39 & 40 of the UA (P) Act 1967, and 25 (1)(a) & 35 of Arms Act, section 4 & 5 of Explosive Substances Act in NIA Special Court at Jammu.

“The case was initially registered at police station Qazigund, Distt: Kulgam, J&K on 11.01.2020 after apprehension of two dreaded militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen i.e. Syed Naveed Mushtaq, the then District Commander of HM for Districts Shopian and Ganderbal and Rafi Ahmad Rather along with one serving DySP of J&K Police named Devender Singh and Irfan Shafi Mir @ Advocate near Al-Stop Naka, Qazigund while they were going out of Srinagar towards Jammu in the i20 car owned and driven by Irfan Shafi Mir @ Advocate. During the search of vehicle, one AK-47 Rifle, 03 Pistols and a cache of ammunitions and explosives were recovered. All the 04 accused persons were arrested by J&K Police on the same day,” the statement says.

NIA took over the investigation of the case on 17.01.2020 by re-registering the same as RC-01/2020/NIA/JMU at Police Station, NIA Jammu. During the course of investigation, these four accused persons were interrogated thoroughly and searches were conducted at 15 places in Kashmir Valley as well as in Jammu. Three more accused persons namely Syed Irfan Ahmad, younger brother of accused Syed Naveed Mushtaq, accused Tanveer Ahmad Wani and Tariq Ahmad Mir were arrested in the case on 23.01.2020, 10.02.2020 and 29.04.2020 respectively for being part of the conspiracy to extend support to the banned militant organization Hizb-ul-Mujahideen by way of raising and transferring funds to the HM militants, harbouring them and supplying them arms, ammunition & explosives to carry out subversive activities.

“The investigation has revealed that accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Pakistan-based militant organization Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Pakistani State Agencies to commit violent acts and to wage war against the Union of India.”

“The investigation has revealed that Pakistan based leadership of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen (HM) namely Sayeed Salahudeen, Amir Khan, Deputy Chief of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen, Khursheed Alam Operational Head of Hizbul Mujahideen, Nazar Mehmood Financial Head of Hizbul Mujahideen and others alongwith Pakistani establishment is extending support to the cadre and commanders of Hizb-ul- Mujahideen based in Jammu & Kashmir. The investigation also revealed that accused Irfan Shafi Mir @ Advocate not only met Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leadership in Pakistan but also met Umar Cheema, Ahshan Chaudhary, Sohail Abbas and others of ISI of Pakistan and he was tasked to identify and activate the new hawala channels for transfer of money for sustaining militant activities in Kashmir valley. Investigation also revealed that certain officials of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were in constant touch with Irfan Shafi Mir @ Advocate who was provided with funds to organize seminars in J&K to mobilize the masses against Government of India. Irfan Shafi Mir also used to receive instructions and money from Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and also facilitated the visa applications for number of Kashmiris for their visit to Pakistan,” the statement reads.

“Accused Devender Singh was also in touch with certain officials of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi through secure social media platforms. Investigation revealed that he was being groomed by Pakistani officials for obtaining sensitive information. Investigation has revealed that ex-police Constable Naveed Babu had deserted Police force alongwith certain weapons and was responsible for various killings, including incidents  in which labourers and truck drivers were killed after the abrogation of Article 370 from J&K. Naveed Babu had made efforts to recruit gullible Muslims youths to join cadre of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was also receiving funds from LoC traders and accused Tanveer Ahmad Wani who was an Ex-President of LoC traders Association, was providing him funds with the help of other traders based in PoK,” it says.

 Investigation has also revealed that the accused were obtaining weapons and ammunitions from across the border with the help of arms smugglers and accused Devender Singh. These weapons were later used for terrorist activities.

Investigation has further revealed that in Feb, 2019, in order to shield HM Commander Syed Naveed Mushtaq from the heightened surveillance of security agencies, accused Devender Singh, a serving Dy.SP of J&K Police, along with Irfan Shafi Mir @ Advocate and Syed Irfan Ahmad, arranged safe shelter for him and his associate in Jammu. Accused Devender Singh used his own vehicle for the movement of HM militants and also assured them help in procuring weapons.

 Investigation has further brought on record that the Pakistani establishment has been devising all possible ways and means to fund, arm and sustain the militant activities of the banned militant organization Hizbul Mujahideen.

 Further investigation in the case is continuing against arrested accused Tariq Ahmad Mir and others in the case.(KINS)