Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 11: The Court of Special Judge under NIA Act, Jammu, Prem Sagar, has remanded five accused, including two Pakistani nationals, to 25 days' judicial custody in connection with NIA case RC-02/2026/NIA/JMU, registered under the Arms Act, UAPA and Explosive Substances Act.
The accused - Mohd Naqeeb Bhat, son of Bashir Ahmed Bhat of Fazul Haq Colony, Hazratbal, Srinagar; Adil Rashid Bhat, son of Abdul Rashid Bhat of Syepora Hamchi, Hazratbal, Srinagar; Ghulam Mohd Mir alias Mama Gas, son of Ghulam Nabi Mir of Danihama, Hazratbal, Srinagar; Abu Huraira alias Kamran Ahmad alias Abdulla Rajput, resident of Kasur, Pakistan; and Khubaib alias Usman alias Hilal Ahmed alias Hilal Ahmed Bania, resident of Lahore, Pakistan, were produced before the Court through video conferencing by CIO NIA DySP Amit Sharma.
The NIA sought judicial custody of the accused for a period of 30 days. The Court, after perusing the latest entries in the case diary and considering the submissions of the CIO, observed that the accused persons were prima facie involved in a case registered for offences punishable under Sections 7/27 Arms Act, Section 23 of the UA(P) Act and Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.
Earlier, after the NIA took over the case linked to an alleged interstate Lashkar-e-Taiba terror module, the accused had been produced before the Special NIA Court for custodial proceedings. The case had surfaced after security agencies arrested five persons, including two Pakistani nationals, in connection with alleged terror activities and suspected logistics support network. The accused were earlier sent to NIA custody for interrogation, during which the agency examined their alleged role, cross-border links and suspected involvement in the module.
On Monday, the CIO submitted that the investigation was still in progress but police custody of the accused was no longer required. Accordingly, the Court remanded accused Nos. 1 to 4 to judicial custody till June 4, 2026, with directions that they be lodged in District Jail, Amphalla, Jammu. Accused No. 5 was separately remanded to judicial custody till the same date and directed to be lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal, Jammu.
Since accused Nos. 4 and 5 are Pakistani nationals, the Court apprised them of their right to be defended by legal practitioners of their choice. The Court recorded that they did not complain against anything and directed LADC Anil Sharma to provide legal assistance to them.
The Court further directed the concerned Jail Superintendents to produce the accused before the competent court on expiry of the remand period. The CIO was also directed to follow the guidelines laid down in D.K. Basu case, while the accused persons were ordered to be subjected to medical examination after every 48 hours as per rules. (JNF) |
