Srinagar, May 21: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday claimed to have arrested an accused, involved in the killing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Pariar in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a statement issued here, NIA said that “On 19th May, 2020, NIA arrested accused Rustam Ali, aged 56 years, son of Fateh Mohammed resident of Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, who is an accused in NIA case RC-36/2018/NIA/DLI which relates to the murder of Anil Parihar (State Secretary of J&K of BJP) and his brother Ajeet Parihar at Kishtwar, J&K on 01.11.2018 by militants belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM).”
The accused Rustam Ali as per statement was also wanted in another case of Kishtwar registered by NIA vide RC 07/2019/NIA/JMU (Robbery of INSAS rifle from PSO of Advocate Nasir Hussain).
“The case RC-36/2018/NIA/DLI (Murder of Parihar Brothers at Kishtwar, J&K) was registered by NIA on 28.11.2018. Charge-sheet against 7 accused persons including 3 killed militants Osama-bin-Javid, Haroon Abbas Wani and Zahid Hussain, three arrested accused persons namely Nisar Ahmed Sheikh, Nishad Ahmed Butt and Azad Hussain and absconding accused Rustam Ali was submitted in NIA Special Court at Jammu on 15.5.2020,” NIA said.
The NIA statement reads that investigation of cases unearthed the larger conspiracy of these militants and the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of Hizb-ulMujahideen(HM) who were attempting to revive militancy in the region of Chenab valley i.e. districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban.
“Accused Rustam Ali had been absconding since long and investigation revealed that Rustam Ali had constructed a hide-out in the house of accused Nishad Ahmed Butt for safe hiding of accused persons,” NIA said.
“On 19.5.2020 information was received about his presence in the outer area of Kishtwar Town and accordingly an NIA team was sent which apprehended arrested accused Rustam Ali. Accused Rustam Ali has been produced in NIA Special Court at Jammu and NIA has been granted 7 days of custody,” NIA said.
