Court orders forfeiture of house used for plotting 2019 Pulwama attack

A special court has ordered the forfeiture of a residential house that was used to plan and execute the 2019 Pulwama attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, in which 40 personnel lost their lives.

The special court operating under the NIA Act directed that the house, located at Hakripora in Kakpora tehsil of Pulwama district, be forfeited after it was declared “proceeds of terrorism” under Sections 25 and 26 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The order bars any transfer of the property or creation of third-party interests.

Investigations revealed that terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) used the house as a hideout to plan the February 14, 2019 suicide bombing.

Special Judge under the NIA Act, Sandeep Gandotra, allowed the application filed by NIA Chief Investigating Officer Rajiv Om Parkash Pande seeking confiscation of the 9.5-marla property, registered in the name of Naseema Bano, wife of accused Peer Tariq Ahmed Shah.

The NIA was represented by Special Public Prosecutor KS Pathania, while the non-applicant side filed objections through advocate Syed Azad Andrabi.

According to the investigation, JeM terrorists Muhammad Umar Farooq, Sameer Ahmed Dar and Adil Ahmed Dar used the Hakripora house to plan the attack on the CRPF convoy. It was further alleged that members of the family residing in the house provided shelter that facilitated the conspiracy.

The court stressed that ownership by the principal accused is not a prerequisite for forfeiture under the UAPA—use of a property to aid or facilitate terrorism is sufficient grounds for its seizure.