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| NIA Court forfeits car used to escort terrorists in Udhampur attack | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, July 30: The Special NIA Court, Jammu, has ordered the forfeiture of a Maruti Alto allegedly used as an advance escort for a truck carrying two terrorists involved in the 2015 Udhampur terror attack on a BSF convoy.
Special Judge under the NIA Act, Jammu, Prem Sagar passed the order while allowing an application moved by the National Investigation Agency under Section 26 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for forfeiture of the vehicle bearing registration number JK03A-8929.
The case arose from FIR No. 60/2015 registered at Police Station Chenani following the August 5, 2015 terror attack. The investigation was later taken over by the NIA on the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to the investigating agency, accused Khursheed Ahmed Ittu had escorted a truck bearing registration number JK03C-7778, which was carrying two terrorists, in the Alto from Khudwani towards the place of occurrence.
The prosecution alleged that the car was driven ahead of the truck to provide advance warning about possible police and security force checking points along the National Highway and thereby facilitate the safe passage of the terrorists.
The NIA described Ittu as an active overground worker and supporter of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and claimed that the vehicle was knowingly used for furthering the conspiracy behind the terror attack.
The Alto was seized by the Chief Investigating Officer on March 17, 2016, after it was suspected to represent the “proceeds of terrorism”. The seizure was communicated to the Designated Authority within the stipulated 48 hours and was subsequently confirmed by the competent authority on May 12, 2016.
Although the vehicle continued to remain registered in the name of Muzaffar Ahmed Rangrez, the NIA maintained that it was being used by accused Khursheed Ahmed Ittu at the relevant time.
Rangrez, through his counsel, submitted that he had already sold the vehicle to Tanveer Ahmed Dar in July 2010 and had neither possession nor control over it at the time of the incident. He also conveyed that he had no objection to its forfeiture.
The court observed that the Investigating Officer had complied with the statutory requirements under Sections 25 and 26 of the UAPA and that the seizure order had been duly confirmed by the Designated Authority.
It further noted that no appeal had been preferred against the confirmation order within the prescribed period.
The court also took into consideration that the vehicle had remained seized for more than nine years and four months and, being machinery, was likely to suffer damage if kept unused in police custody.
Accordingly, the court confirmed the order of the Designated Authority and directed forfeiture of the Maruti Alto bearing chassis number 1006318 and engine number 4200015 in accordance with law.
Special Public Prosecutor G.S. Charak appeared for the NIA, while Advocate Ajaz Ahmed Naik represented Muzaffar Ahmed Rangrez. (JNF) |
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