NIA Summons 40 Teachers, Raids 16 Locations in Kashmir

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer)

File Photo: Paramilitary forces stand guard as NIA sleuths conduct raids in Solina quarter of the Srinagar- KO Photo

Srinagar : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids across Kashmir and summoned at least 40 teachers on Sunday in connection with recent target killings here, the investigation of which the agency has formally taken over from the local police.

Top officials of the IB, including Tapan Deka, the head of counter terrorism wing in the agency are camping in Srinagar under the directions of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, according to a report by the news agency IANS.

"The home minister has made it clear to the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha that unless the terrorists involved in these killings are quickly brought to justice, many heads will roll in the UT", IANS quoting top unnamed sources reported.

The J & K Police have already detained over 500 people in connection with the FIRs lodged in different police stations pertaining to recent killings which have reportedly triggered fresh migration of Pandit community members from the Kashmir Valley.

The NIA has taken over the investigation into the murders of principal Supinder Kour and teacher Deepak Chand, who were shot dead inside the school premises in the Eidgah area of Srinagar city.

On Sunday the NIA also summoned forty teachers to its Church Lane office in Srinagar. Teachers belong to various schools of the Srinagar city.

Earlier NIA carried out raids at 16 locations across Kashmir Valley.

The raids were conducted in Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, and Baramulla, according to sources.

Several people have been detained. Police called those detained as stone pelters and anti-India elements.

As many as 70 youths have been detained in Srinagar and a total of 570 people have been detained across Kashmir in the past 2-3 days, the report said.

One report said that sleuths of NIA along with CRPF raided the house of Nayeem Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Aaripora Zewan who is working as driver in Hassan Road Construction Company. The house of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Baghi Nand Singh Chattabal who is running a poultry farm was also searched by the Sleuths of NIA and seized almost five mobile phones besides other things, they said.

They said that sleuths of probing agency raided the house of Suhail Ahmad Bhat son of Late Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, a resident of Solina Payeen in Shergari Police jurisdiction here and house of Tahir Ahmad Najar son of Mohammad Sultan Najar, a resident of Bahauddind Sahab in Nowhata was also searched by the sleuths of the NIA.

Sources in South Kashmir also confirmed that a NIA team of five members headed by SP Naveen Kumar and Dysp R K Pandey raided a residence in Mir Mohalla in Achabal.

They said in north Kashmir, a raid was conducted at Kreeri in Baramulla, adding that similar raids were conducted in Jammu parts also.

Charges Framed Against Andrabi, Nahida

Special designated NIA court meanwhile framed charges againt Asiya Andrabi and two of her close associates Nahida Nasreen and Sufi Fehmida.

According to the report, special designated judge Javed Alam chargesheeted nine persons, including Andrabi, Nasreen and Fehmida associated with Dukhtaran-e-Millat under an FIR registered in Anantnag.

They were charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy against the country, stoning and damaging public property and inciting people, especially youth and college students.

Andrabi and her two associates are at present lodged in Tihar Jail, and the charges were framed through videoconferencing.

It should be noted that NIA special court indicted the accused in this case after a period of about three years. Under the chargesheet, Andrabi and eight others are charged with disturbing law and order. The chargesheet states that Andrabi and other accused conspired together and led a mob equipped with stones.

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