Poonch TuM Conspiracy Case: NIA files charge-sheet against 7 militants

Srinagar, Jun 25: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge-sheet against seven militants of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen outfit in connection with the Poonch conspiracy case.

In a statement NIA spokesman said that a charge has been filed before special NIA court, Jammu against seven accused persons namely— Muhammad Mustafa Khan, son of Muhammad Yaseer Khan, Muhammad Yaseen, son of Late Sakhi Walayat, Muhammad Farooq, son of Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Ibrar, son of Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Javid Khan, son of Muhammad Rafiq Khan, Sher Ali, son of Muhammad Mushtaq Khan, Muhammad Rafiq Nai alias Sultan, son of Afsar Khan, under section 120-B read with sections 121-A, 122 of IPC, Sections 7, 25 of Arms Act, Sections 3 & 4 of Explosive Substance Act and Sections 18, 38, 39 of the UA(P) Act and Section 8 read with sections 21, 22 & 23 of NDPS Act in RC-02/2021/NIA/JMU.

“The case was initially registered as FIR No. 292 /2020 dated 27.12.2020 u/s 16/18/20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Sections 121-A/122/295-A of Indian Penal Code in Police Station Mendhar Police Station of Poonch District relating to arrest of Muhammad Mustafa Khan and recovery of 06 hand grenades along with other incriminating documents from his residence. NIA had re-registered the case as RC-02/2021/NIA/JMU dated 16.03.2021 and taken up the investigation,” the statement said.

“Investigation has revealed that the seven charge-sheeted accused persons were part of a deep-rooted criminal conspiracy by Pakistan-based handlers of TuM and their associates based in Poonch and Kuwait to execute terrorist activities and wage war against the Indian State,” it said.

It added that absconding accused Rafiq Nai alias Sultan and other handlers based in Pakistan administered Kashmir with assistance of Sher Ali based in Kuwait, Muhammad Mustafa, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Ibrar, Muhammad Javid and others on the Indian side of LoC in Poonch district smuggled arms, ammunition, explosives, narcotics etc into the Indian territory.

They were taking advantage of geography, affinities of religion, culture and other ties cutting across both sides of the LoC, it said.

“During the course of investigation, large Cache of arms, ammunition, explosives, Narcotics along with flag, posters and other incriminating material belonging to TuM outfit, which was hidden at different places in Poonch was recovered,” NIA said, adding that further investigation in the case is going on.