NIA arrests 9 ‘aides’ of terrorist groups

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 13

The anti-terror federal probe agency, NIA, today said it had arrested nine terror associates of proscribed terror outfits following the raids that the agency conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday at 18 locations in J&K.

The raids were conducted after registration of a case on October 10 to unearth a conspiracy hatched by terror outfits, including overground workers (OGWs), to carry out attacks in the UT as well as other major cities, such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, said NIA officials.

The NIA had arrested four terror associates during searches at 16 locations on Tuesday and five more were rounded up after raids at two more locations.

The four accused – Waseem Ahmad Sofi, Tariq Ahmad Dar, Bilal Ahmad Mir, alias Bilal Fafu, and Tariq Ahmad Bafanda, all residents of Srinagar – were arrested during the searches carried out in Srinagar, Pulwama and Shopian districts on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, officials arrested Md Haneef Chiralu, Hafeez, Owais Dar, Mateen Bhat and Arif Farooq Bhat following the continued searches in Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian.

Several electronic devices, incriminating Jihad (holy war) documents and records of suspicious financial transactions were seized, an official said.

The terror associates of the organisations, such as LeT, JeM, Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM), Al Badr, The Resistance Front (TRF) and People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF), are conspiring with their handlers and commanders based in a neighbouring country and also indulging in radicalisation of local youth, an official said.

The terrorists and cadres, including those arrested by the NIA, have committed several crimes, including killing of numerous innocent civilians and security personnel, and unleashing a reign of terror in the Valley, officials added.

Documents seized

• During the raids, NIA officials seized electronic devices, incriminating Jihad (holy war) documents and records of suspicious financial transactions
• Such terror aides are behind numerous terror crimes, including killing of civilians and security men, say officials.

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