NIA custody for 9 OGWS

SRINAGAR: Nine persons arrested in Kashmir by police’s Special Operation Group (SOG) in November last year for alleged militant links were on Tuesday handed over to National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Official sources told that two persons identified as Tahir Ahmad Khan son of Ali Mohammad of Chandrigam Tral and Haris Mushtaq Khan son of Mushtaq Ahmad of Wathora Budgam were arrested by the SOG Srinagar near TRC on November 23, 2018.

On their disclosure, police sources said that seven more persons were arrested by respective police stations and handed over to SOG in a subsequent couple of days.

They include Abdul Ahad Mir son of Ghulam Mohammad of Khurhama, Kupwara, Asif Suhail Nadaf son of Latief Ahmad of Rainwari, Irfan Ahmad Seeru son of Mohammad Shaban of Nawa Kadal Srinagar, Wahid Abbas Bhat son of Mohammad Abbas of Rajouri Kadal, Srinagar, Ashiq Hussain son of Bashir Ahmad of Jamia Masjid Nowhatta, Haris Rashid Langoo son of Abdul Rashid of Malik Sahib Gojwara Srinagar and Arif Majeed Khan son of Abdul Majeed of Hawal Srinagar.

On Tuesday, the police handed over all the nine persons to NIA sleuths who arrived here on Monday from Jammu, sources said.

A police officer while confirming said nine persons were handed to NIA sleuths on the orders of City Munsiff Srinagar following an application by the NIA.

He said all these persons were working as over-ground workers (OGWs) of militant outfits and on their instances police recovered two pistols along with 14 rounds, three grenades, one bara bore single barrel rifle, one ISIS flag and one cutter.

He said that a case under FIR number 93/2018 under section 307 RPC, 7/28 Arms Act, 16-B-18 Unlawful Activities Act stands registered in police station Kotibagh, Srinagar.