Kashmir

Three killed militants among five chargesheeted for kidnapping, murdering armyman in Budgam

SRINAGAR — Police on Monday produced a chargesheet against five accused persons including three killed militants for kidnapping and murdering an armyman in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

An armyman Mohammad Sameer Malla on leave was kidnapped and murdered at Lokipora Khag village in Budgam district in March this year.

The persons who have been chargesheeted in this case include Athar Illahi Sheikh OGW of LeT (presently lodged in Kot Bilawal Jail ) S/o Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh R/o Lokipora Khag, Mohammad Yousuf Dar @ Kantroo (LeT Commander, now Killed) S/o Abdul Ghani Dar R/o Cheki Kawoosa Narbal, Faisal Hafeez Dar (LeT militant now Killed) S/o Hafizullah Dar R/o Aripanthan Magam, Hilal Ahmad Sheikh @ Hanzullah (LeT militant, now Killed) S/o Abdul Hameed Sheikh R/o Shrakwaari Wagoora Baramullah and Foreign militant Ghazi Bhai @ Pathan Bhai @ Usman Bhai (LeT militant at Large).

According to statement by Budgam Police, On 07 March 2022 at around 21:30 hours, Police Station Khag received a complaint about missing of one in-service army soldier on leave of 05 JAKLI namely Mohammad Sameer Malla S/o Mohammad Yaqoob Malla R/o Lokipora Khag & accordingly search of the missing person started. After 03 days on 10th March 2022, upon specific information, dead body of the missing army personal was recovered who was found buried in a ditch in fields of village Labran Khag.

Accordingly a formal Case FIR number 09/2022 U/S 364, 302 IPC was registered in Police Station Khag and investigation was taken up. During the course of investigation one OGW Ather Illahi Sheikh was apprehended who upon questioning admitted that he along with other 04 accused militants of militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toibya abducted Mohammad Sameer Malla on 7th March and they tortured him which resulted in his death, the statement said.

The statement further said that accordingly Ather Illahi Sheikh was arrested. During investigation/search 03 militants involved in the said crime got killed in anti militancy operation in Village Malwa kunzar on 21/22 April 2022 while as one accused serial number 05 Ghazi Bhai @ Pathan Pakistan origin militant is still at large.

During further investigation and collection of evidences in the case, offences under section 364, 302, 392, 201, 149 IPC, 16, 18, 19, 20, 38, 39 ULA(P) Act were established against the accused and the chargesheet to this effect was produced before the Court, the statement ends. — (KIMS)