Terror recruitment: Slain Hizbul militant’s mother held, booked under UAPA
Harry Walia. Updated: 6/29/2020 11:12:26 AM
Front Page
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a woman, mother of a slain terrorist and sister of an active militant in Kulgam district for her alleged involvement in terrorist recruitment.
"Naseema Banoo, who is sister of active terrorist Abbas Sheikh and the mother of killed terrorist Tausif, was arrested on June 20 from her residence in Rampora area in connection with FIR 30/2018 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," an official said.
She has been booked under sections 13B, 17, 18, 18B, 19, 39 of the Act.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said the woman (Banoo) was involved in recruiting youths into militant ranks.
"A photo of the arrested woman in which she is toting an automatic weapon and posing next to her son when he was an active terrorist speaks it all," another official said.
Tausif Sheikh who was affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in an encounter with security forces along with Mohammed Rafi Bhat and Sadam Padar on May 6, 2018. Further, as per the police, Bano is also the sister of active militant Abbas Sheikh.
The official said that arrest was done in compliance of provisions of law and she has been under legally sanctioned custody in women police station Anantnag ever since her arrest.
“Her role has surfaced in recruiting at least 2 youth into militant ranks, arranging arms, ammunition, communication and logistics for militants and militant organizations,” he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kulgam Gurinderpal Singh told TNN, “The woman was absconding and FIR was registered against her in 2018 and she has been booked under UAPA for her involvement in criminal offence”.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has rejected the criticism that it was targeting family members of militants without evidence. They said the arrests were done in compliance with provisions of law.
"JKP donot target family of #terrorists without evidence. #Sister of active terrorist Abbas Sheikh & #mother of killed terrorist Tausif, Naseema Banoo was arrested on 20 June 2020 in FIR 30/2018. Besides, recent involvement in #recruiting youth into #terrorist ranks: IGP Kashmir (sic)," the Kashmir Zone Police posted on its official Twitter handle.