Pakistan was grooming J&K ex-DSP, says NIA in chargesheet

NEW DELHI: NIA, in its chargesheet filed on Monday against suspended J&K deputy superintendent of police (DySP) Devender Singh and two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists facilitated by him, has stated that Singh was being groomed by Pakistani officials for obtaining “sensitive information”. NIA investigation into the case relating to Singh, arrested along with two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists and an advocate in January 2020 after their car was intercepted along Srinagar-Jammu highway and weapons recovered from it, has also revealed that he was in constant touch with certain officials of Pakistani High Commission here through secure media platforms.
The NIA chargesheet – which names Syed Naveed Mushtaq, then Hizb district commander for Shopian and Ganderbal, HM terrorist Rafi Ahmad Rather, Irfan Shafi Mir @ Advocate and Devender Singh (all four arrested in January 2020), ex-LOC trader Tanveer Ahmad Wani and Syed Irfan Ahmad (brother of Naveed Babu) -- states that “certain officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi” were in constant touch with a second accused, Irfan Shafi Mir, and providing him funds to organise seminars in J&K to mobilise the masses against the Government of India.
Mir, who is currently in judicial custody along with 6 other accused, was receiving instructions and money from Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and also facilitated visa applications of many Kashmiris for visit to Pakistan. Mir, NIA said, had not only met Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leadership in Pakistan but also ISI officials/agents Umar Cheema, Ahshan Chaudhary, Sohail Abbas and others. Mir was tasked with identifying and activating the new hawala channels for transfer of money for sustaining terrorist activities in Kashmir valley.
“The investigation has revealed that accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Pakistani State agencies to commit violent acts and to wage war against the Union of India,” states the chargesheet.
Only recently, India had asked Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to reduce its strength by half. As TOI had reported earlier, hobnobbing of Pakistan HC officials with Indian terror accused in the relevant NIA case was one of the factors behind the move. Sources said the name of one assistant in Pakistan High Commission named Shauqat had cropped up in the investigation.
As per NIA, the chargesheeted accused were obtaining weapons and ammunition from across the border with the help of arms smugglers and Devender Singh. These weapons were later used for terrorist activities.
In February 2019, in order to shield Naveed Mushtaq from the heightened surveillance following Pulwama attack, Devender Singh, along with Mir and Syed Irfan Ahmad, had arranged safe shelter for him and his associate in Jammu. Singh used own vehicle to transport them and also assured them help in procuring weapons.
Singh was granted bail last month in another case probed by Delhi Police as they had failed to file a chargesheet on time. NIA has now filed the chargesheet against him a day short of expiry of 180-day limit.
While the six accused were chargesheeted under various sections of UAPA, IPC, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, investigation is continuing against arrested accused Tariq Ahmad Mir and others.
The chargesheet states that Pakistan based leadership of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen namely Syed Salahudeen, deputy chief Amir Khan, operational head Khursheed Alam, financial head of Hizb Nazar Mehmood and others along with Pakistani establishment are extending support to the cadre and commanders of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen based in Jammu & Kashmir.
Ex-J&K police constable Naveed Babu who had deserted police force with weapons and was responsible for various killings, including that of labourers and truck drivers following the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, had made efforts to recruit Muslim youths into Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was also receiving funds from LoC traders and accused Tanveer Ahmad Wani, an ex-President of LoC traders Association, was providing him funds with the help of other traders based in PoK.
“Investigation has further brought on record that the Pakistani establishment has been devising all possible ways and means to fund, arm and sustain the terrorist activities of the banned terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen,” states the chargesheet.