The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has asked former MLA Wachi, Aijaz Ahmad Mir to appear before the NIA court in Jammu on September 11 as a witness in a case for recording his statement.

"The 'NIA vs Aadil Bashir Sheikh and others' case is fixed for prosecution evidence of Special Judge, NIA J&K at Jammu on 11-09-24 and your statement is required to be recorded on the said date of hearing," reads the notice of Special Public Prosecutor NIA J&K at Jammu to Aijaz.

"You are as such requested to cause your appearance before the Hon'ble Court on 11-09-24 at 10:00 am sharp without fail. In case you fail to appear before the court without just cause, appropriate action will be taken to compel your appearance before the court," it reads further.

In 2018, Aadil Bashir Sheikh, an SPO deployed with Aijaz Mir, the then MLA Wachi, decamped with seven rifles and other ammunition from the official residence of MLA in Jawahar Nagar Srinagar. The case was later handed over to the NIA for investigation.

NEW DELHI — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached the property of an overground worker (OGW) of Hizbul Mujahideen in the case of the targeted killing of a Sarpanch in Kulgam district.

In a statement issued to the news agency KNO, a spokesperson said that the residential house of Nasir Rashid Bhat located in Tengpora village of Shopian has been attached under Section 33 (1) of UA(P) Act, 1947, on orders of the NIA Special Judge, Jammu.

The statement reads that the accused, along with other members of the banned HM organisation, was involved in the killing of a Sarpanch on March 11, 2022 with the aim of spreading fear among the people.

“Investigations by NIA, which took over the case from Kulgam Police, revealed that the targeted killing was part of a larger HM conspiracy to disturb India’s integrity, sovereignty and security through violent attacks and killings,” it reads.

It added the NIA further found that Bhat had provided his Alto car to the militants and was also involved in conducting a recce of the Sarpanch’s house and in informing the Hizb militants about the target’s presence.

“He used his car to take the assailants to the area around the Sarpanch’s house on the day of the attack. NIA has chargesheeted six accused in the case and the trial against them is continuing,” it added.

NEW DELHI — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday gave its consent for jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as a Member of Parliament (MP) on July 25. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh will pass an order on the plea on Tuesday.

Rashid, the MP from Baramulla who was arrested in a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir militancy funding case, had moved the court seeking interim bail, or custody parole in the alternative, to take oath and perform his parliamentary functions.

A special court here on June 22 had adjourned the matter and asked the NIA to file its response.

On Monday, the NIA’s counsel said Rashid’s oath-taking ceremony be subject to some conditions like not speaking to the media. He also said Rashid must complete everything within a day.

Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in a militancy funding case. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.