Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI/Srinagar, Dec 18: A special NIA court at Delhi’s Patiala House today convicted two individuals in a high-profile terrorism conspiracy case.
The accused — Zahoor Ahmad Pir and Nazeer Ahmad Pir — were found guilty under various Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The accused were charged under Sections 18 (conspiracy), 19 (harbouring), and 39 (support to a terrorist organization) of the UAPA Act.
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The NIA’s case detailed that the duo conspired to commit terror acts, harbouring and supporting Pakistani terrorist Bahadur Ali. Ali had reportedly infiltrated to stoke unrest in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.
The court will now hear arguments on the sentence on January 8.
Zahoor Ahmad Peer was accused of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW) for the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). The specific allegation was that he, along with a co-accused, harboured a Pakistani terrorist, Bahadur Ali, by providing him with food and a safe place to stay in Yahama village, Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir, in June/July 2016.
The case originated from a larger LeT conspiracy to conduct terror attacks in India. As part of this, Bahadur Ali and two associates illegally infiltrated into Jammu & Kashmir. After being separated from his group, Bahadur Ali was directed by his LeT handlers to contact a local operative code-named “Doctor” for support.
Meanwhile, the NIA court in Srinagar today convicted a terror accused and sentenced him to over four years of imprisonment and fine to the tune of Rs 10, 000.
A police spokesman said that Pulwama Police have secured conviction in FIR No. 289/2020 of Police Station Pulwama, a terror-related case, after the accused confessed his involvement before the Court through Video Conferencing.
The case was registered on 01/12/2020, under Sections 16, 18, 19 & 20 of the ULA(P) Act, Section 307 IPC and Sections 7/27 Arms Act. The convicted accused has been identified as Zamir Sadiq Lone son of Mohammad Sadiq Lone, resident of Tiken Batpora, who was arrested in 2021.
The spokesman said that the case also involved three other accused terrorists, who were eliminated earlier in security operations.
He said that the investigation was initially conducted by DySP Mohamad Shafi, and later further investigated and challaned by DySP Showkat Rafiq. The case was instituted before the NIA Court on 27/04/2022, and charges were framed on 01/06/2022.
Upon conclusion of the trial, the Court sentenced the convicted accused to 4 years and 4 months of imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 10,000.
“This conviction underscores J&K Police’s professional investigation, strong coordination with prosecution, and zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism. J&K Police remains firmly committed to maintaining peace and ensuring that all terror-related cases are taken to their logical conclusion,” the spokesman said.
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