Srinagar: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday claimed to have arrested three residents of south Kashmir’s Shopian district in a weapon loot case from the Srinagar residence of former Peoples Democratic Party legislator.

Those arrested were identified as Parveez Ahmad Wani (35) of Thokarpora, Javid Yousuf Dar (21) of Gundi Darvesh and Subzar Ahmad Kumar (20) of Shermal, said an NIA spokesman, in a statement.

Seven rifles and the licensed pistol of ex-legislator Aijaz Ahmad Mir were looted from his Jawahar Nagar residence on 28 September by a Special Police officer Adil Bashir who later on joined Hizb ul Mujahideen.

“A case FIR No. 57/2018 dated 28.09.2018 u/s 380 of RPC, Sec. 07, 25 of Arms Act, 03 of PEPO Act and 16,18, 20 & 38 of the UA (P) Act was registered at PS Raj Bagh, Srinagar, J&K in this regard,” said the spokesman.

He said this case was later registered by NIA as RC-32/2018/NIA/DLI and investigation was taken up.

“During investigation it emerged that SPO Adil Bashir Sheikh and his associates namely Yawar Ahmad Dar s/o Mushtaq Ahmad Dar resident of Thokarpora, District Shopian (now active militant of HM) and Rafique Ahmad Bhat son of Mohd. Ashraf Bhat r/o Achan, District Pulwama had taken away the above mentioned weapons as part of conspiracy hatched by Kashmir based top leadership of proscribed organisation Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM),” said the spokesman.

He said the NIA had earlier arrested accused Rafique Ahmad Bhat in the instant case. “Accused Adil Bashir Sheikh and Yawar Ahmad Dar are still absconding,” he said.

“During investigation, it has also emerged that Parveez Ahmad Wani, Javid Yousuf Dar and Subzar Ahmad Kumar had provided logistical support to the above mentioned accused persons as a part of the conspiracy.”

The accused – Parveez Ahmad Wani, Javid Yousuf Dar and Subzar Ahmad Kumar – will be produced in the Special NIA Court, Jammu tomorrow for seeking police custody for further investigation, said the spokesman.