Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday filed a charge sheet against six persons accused in Handwara narco-terrorism case in an NIA special court in Jammu, the agency said in a statement.
According to the statement, the case pertains to the seizure of 21 kg narcotics (Heroin) and Rs 1.35 crore cash amount from the accused persons in Handwara district.
The charge sheet, as per the statement, has been filed against Abdul Momin Peer alias Peerzada Momen, Islam-ul-Haq Peer — both residents of Waskhura Handwara; Syed Iftikhar Andrabi, Saleem Andrabi — both residents of Laribal Handwara; Afaq Ahmad Wani, a resident of Maratgam Handwara, and Muneer Ahmad Banday alias Ishfaq, a resident of Banday Mohalla Handwara.
As per the statement, two among the six accused, Saleem Andrabi and Muneer Ahmad Banday, are still absconding while four have been already arrested.
“The case arose out of Police Station Handwara, case no. 183/2020, dated 11.06.2020, wherein during checking of vehicles at Kairo Bridge, Handwara, accused Abdul Momin Peer’s Creta vehicle was intercepted by the Police Naka Party. The vehicle was searched and a cash amount of Rs 20,01,000/- and 2 kg Heroin were seized,” the statement reads.
It further reads that Abdul Momin Peer was arrested and following his disclosure, accused Syed Iftikhar Andrabi and Islam-Ul-Haq Peer were also arrested.
“The case was re-registered by NIA as RC-03/2020/NIA/DLI on 23.06.2020 and investigation was taken up. Accused Afaq Ahmad Wani, who was on the run, was arrested by NIA on 16.07.2020, based on technical analysis.”
The statement further reads that the investigation revealed that accused persons including Abdul Momin Peer and Saleem Andrabi were involved in cross-border smuggling and supply of narcotic drug Heroin in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country after procuring the same from their associates based abroad including Pakistan.
“Accused Iftikhar Andrabi and Abdul Momin Peer visited Pakistan several times during 2016-17 to meet the operatives of terrorist organisations Lashkar-E-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). The amount generated from the sale of Heroin was pumped by the accused to further the terrorist activities of Lashkar-E-Taiba (LeT). Further investigation in the case is going on,” the statement reads. (KNO)