Acting tough against those engaged in anti-national activities, J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat on Wednesday ordered attachment of the residential property of the former president of the J&K High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, in Srinagar under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with a 2009 case related to an anti-India seminar allegedly addressed by several separatist leaders and also for “concealing incriminatory material and furtherance of terrorist activities”.
The property was attached after the DGP approved the attachment of the two-storeyed bungalow along with land measuring 2 Kanals, 1 Marla, and 90 sqft situated in the posh Bulbul Bagh, Barzulla, Srinagar, in FIR No 157/09 u/s 120, 120-B, 121, 153-A RPC, 13, 38 and 39 UAPA, of PS Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar.
The case pertains to 31 December 2009 when the Police Station Shaheed Gunj received information to the effect that “on the death anniversary of the Pakistan leader Late Ali Mohammad Jinnah, a seminar was organized by separatist leaders led by Feroz Ahmad Khan, vice chairman Muslim League at Hotel Jahangir Srinagar, in which, amongst others, the participants including Aasia Andrabi, Shabir Ahmad Najar (District President Muslim League), Mian Abdul Qayoom (at that time President Bar Association) delivered anti-India speeches and raised anti national slogans. They stressed that the future of Kashmir depends upon Pakistan and there should be Islamic law in J&K”.
During the investigation, police recorded witness statements confirming that the participants had made inflammatory remarks, provoked the audience, and advocated the secession of Jammu & Kashmir.
The order further mentioned that a search of Mian Qayoom’s residence, conducted after obtaining a magistrate’s warrant, led to the recovery of banned literature, a Hizbul Mujahideen letterhead with seal impression, a press note-type document, a letter addressed by Syed Salahuddin to then US President Bill Clinton, and another Hizbul Mujahideen seal impression in Urdu. Independent witnesses and an Executive Magistrate were present during the search.
The property registered under mutation no 338, in the name of Mian Abdul Qayoom, thus falls within the ambit of “proceeds of terrorism” in terms of section 2(g) of UAPA and is liable to be attached in FIR No 157/09, of PS Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, the DGP ordered.