NIA raids several locations in Jammu and Kashmir in ex-DSP Davinder Singh case

NEW DELHI/ SRINAGAR: Tightening its noose in the suspended deputy superintendent (DSP) Davinder Singh and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu case, the national investigation agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at several locations in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.

An NIA official privy to the development told IANS, "NIA is conducting raids in different parts of Baramulla in HM commander Naveed Babu-Davinder Singh DSP case."

The NIA sources in Srinagar said that the anti-terror probe agency teams along with police raided the house of Rasool Waza in Waza Mohalla Raypora Phalhalan.

According to the source, Waza is a retired government employee of the state health department.

The source said that one of his sons, Farooq Ahmad, a government employee in the health department, and another son,Mushtaq Ahmad Waza, crossed the LoC for illegal arms/ammunition training in 1993 and have not returned till date.

The development comes almost three months after the NIA filed a chargesheet against six persons, including suspended Jammu and Kashmir deputy superintendent of police, in a special NIA court in Jammu.

The NIA has named Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu, Irfan Shafi Mir, Rafi Rather, Tanveer Ahmad Wani, and Syed Irfan in its chargesheet, besides Davinder Singh.

The suspended police officer is lodged in the Kathua jail at Hiranagar in the Jammu division. He was arrested by the police on January 11 on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway while transporting two HM terrorists - Naveed Babu and Rafi Ahmad Rather - and a law school dropout Irfan Shafi Mir to Jammu.

Naveed's brother Irfan was arrested on January 23 for his 'role' in the conspiracy while Wani came under the scanner for allegedly giving money to Naveed, a former special police Officer of Jammu and Kashmir who had joined the terrorist ranks.

After the arrest of Singh, initial investigations were done by the Jammu and Kashmir police before the case was handed over to the NIA.

Police had said that the two terrorists and the lawyer had planned to travel to Pakistan.

The NIA had earlier claimed that its probe revealed that the accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Hizbul and Pakistani state to commit violent acts and to wage war against India.

"The investigation has revealed that Pakistan-based leadership of the Hizbul, namely Syed Salahuddin, Amir Khan, Khursheed Alam, Nazar Mehmood, and others, along with the Pakistani establishment is extending support to the cadres and commanders of the terror outfit based in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The probe also revealed that accused Irfan Shafi Mir aka 'advocate' not only met Hizbul leadership in Pakistan but also met Umar Cheema, Ahshan Chaudhary, Sohail Abbas, and others of the inter-services intelligence of Pakistan. He was tasked to identify and activate the new 'hawala' channels for the transfer of money to sustain terror activities in the Kashmir valley," a NIA spokesperson had earlier said.

The NIA had also claimed that its investigation revealed that certain officials of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi were in constant touch with Mir alias Advocate, who was provided with funds to organise seminars in Jammu and Kashmir to mobilise the masses against the government of India.

Mir allegedly used to receive instructions and money from the Pakistan high commission, and he facilitated the visa applications of a number of Kashmiris for their Pakistan visits.

Even Davinder Singh was said to be in touch with certain high commission officials through secure social media platforms.

Investigation revealed that he was "being groomed by the Pakistani officials for obtaining sensitive information".

Singh was posted with the anti-hijacking wing of the Jammu and Kashmir police in Srinagar, and was part of the security staff that had received a group of foreign diplomats who visited Kashmir.

On June 19, a Delhi court had granted bail to Davinder Singh in a terror case after the Delhi police failed to file a chargesheet against him and co-accused within the stipulated time.