NIA arrests 3 in connection with weapon theft at PDP leader’s residence last year

Jammu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested three persons in connection with a case pertaining to the theft of weapons from the official residence of former PDP MLA Aijaz Ahmad at Jahawar Nagar in Srinagar in September last year.

Those arrested have been identified as Parveez Ahmad Wani, 35, Javid Yousuf Dar, 21, and Subzar Ahmad Kumar, 20, all three residents of District Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir.

A case was registered under the Arms Act and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the case.

SPO Adil Bashir Sheikh was attached with him at his official residence. In September last year, Sheikh fled away with seven AK range rifles issued to the security personnel attached with Ahmad and also a pistol to him.

During the investigation, it emerged that Sheikh and his associates, Yawar Ahmad Dar, now an active militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and Rafique Ahmad Bhat, had taken away these weapons as part of a conspiracy hatched by Kashmir-based top leadership of proscribed terrorist organisation—Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM).

NIA had earlier arrested accused Rafique Ahmad Bhat in the case while Sheikh and Yawar Ahmad Dar are still absconding.

The arrested accused Parveez Ahmad Wani, Javid Yousuf Dar, and Subzar Ahmad Kumar will be produced in the Special NIA Court here on Wednesday, where his custody would be sought for further investigation in the case.

[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]