NIA attaches properties of JeM militant in Pulwama

JAMMU — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached as many as seven immovable properties of a top militant belonging to the banned Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) organisation.

In a statement issued to the news agency KNO, a spokesperson said that Sartaj Ahmed Mantoo’s properties, including land measuring 19 Marlas and 84 Sqft at Kisarigam in Pulwama district, were attached on Wednesday under Section 33 (1) of UA(P) Act, 1967, on the orders of NIA Special Court, Jammu.

The statement reads that Sartaj was arrested on January 31, 2020, and several arms, ammunitions and explosives were recovered from his possession.

“He was chargesheeted on 27th July 2020, and is currently facing trial under relevant sections of Arms Act, IPC, Explosive Substances Act, UA(P) Act and Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933,” it reads.

It added that along with his five co-accused members of JeM, he was involved in transporting freshly infiltrated militants to the Kashmir valley. “Three terrorists were killed and arms, ammunition and explosives were also seized in the case (RC-02/2020/NIA/JMU), related to a conspiracy to unleash terror attacks on security forces/apparatus as part of an anti-India agenda.”

It reads that since its formation in 2000 by Maulana Masood Azhar, JeM has carried out several attacks in India including J&K. “JeM was enlisted as a ‘Designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation’ by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSC) 1267 and the group’s leader Maulana Masood Azhar was designated as ‘Global Terrorist’ in 2019 by the UNSC.”

The statement added that the NIA, just a week ago, attached six immovable properties of another top militant of JeM in Kashmir as part of its crackdown on militant operatives in J&K.