Hizb militant held in Parihar murder case

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 20

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen involved in the murder of BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar in Kishtwar district in 2018. Rustam Ali, 56, of Kishtwar was apprehended by Central agency sleuths from his home town on Tuesday.

“The NIA on Wednesday arrested Rustam Ali, who is an accused in a case which relates to the murder of state secretary of the J&K BJP Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar,” said a spokesperson for the Central agency.

Ali was also wanted in the robbery of an INSAS rifle from a personal security officer of advocate Nasir Hussain in Kishtwar, the NIA said.

“Investigation of both the cases unearthed the larger conspiracy of these terrorists and the overground workers of the Hizbul Mujahideen, who were attempting to revive terrorism in the Chenab valley, which comprises Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban district,” the NIA said.

The NIA said Ali had been absconding for long and investigation revealed he had constructed a hideout in the house of another accused Nishad Butt.

The Central agency filed a chargesheet before the NIA Special Court in Jammu on May 15 against seven persons, including three slain militants, and four others, including Ali, for their role in murdering the Parihar brothers.

The NIA Special Court has granted his seven-day custody to the Central agency.