Front Page   

Former J&K Minister killing: police-militant nexus unearthed

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR JUNE 15. The Jammu and Kashmir police today made startling disclosures about the involvement of its personnel in the killing of the former State Law Minister, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, and his brother last year, besides two `fidayeen' attacks on police and paramilitary forces.

Eight persons, including a Station House Officer and a civilian, have been arrested and more arrests are likely.

The DGP, Gopal Sharma, disclosed how Abdul Ahad of Sogam Police Station in Kupwara district aided and abetted the militants in the assassination of Lone and his brother, Ghulam Mohiuddin Lone, in September and December last year along with seven others. He gave graphic details about how the assassination plan was worked out jointly by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Hizb-ul Mujahideen.

The Hizb district commander, Hilal Dar, the LeT's Nazir Kaker, the JeM's Manzoor Ahmed and Asif, Mohammad Rustum (Special Police Official), Ahad and the civilian, Ghulam Nabi Pir, met a few days prior to the killing. Wireless sets were distributed among Rustum Lone, Abdul Ahad and Gul Pir. Nazir Kaker, Mr. Sharma said, was appointed the hit-man and he joined a group of women during the public meeting at Tikkipora which was to be addressed by the former Minister on September 11.

After the killing he escaped under the cover of fire opened by eight other militants. Afterwards the Hizb commander paid Rs. 1 lakh to Ahad for his "active support". Similarly, the plan to kill the Minister's brother was made by the same group with the support of Ahad who worked as Munshi at the police station. This time the hit-man was Irfan of the JeM. Ahad was again paid Rs. 50,000 for facilitating the killing.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• No troops for Iraq without consensus, PM assures Sonia
• Iraq may figure in Advani-Blair talks
• No fruitful talks after Musharraf's Kargil remarks: Advani
• One more attempt today to build consensus on women's bill
• Former J&K Minister killing: police-militant nexus unearthed
• We'll consider Kanchi Acharya's proposal: AIMPLB
• ASI seeks more time
• MLA held for murder
• EPDP member shot dead
• 5 'terrorists' killed

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu