Pulwama, Nov 25, : A residential property in Kakpora’s Hakripora area of Pulwama, linked to the February 2019 IED attack on a CRPF convoy, has been formally forfeited by the Designated Special Court under the NIA Act in Jammu. The court has declared the house, measuring 9.5 marlas, as “proceeds of militancy,”.
The property belongs to Naseema Bano, wife of accused Peer Tariq Ahmed Shah, and was allegedly used as a hideout and planning point by Jaish-e-Muhammad operatives involved in the attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. The court found that militants Muhammad Umar Farooq, Sameer Ahmed Dar, and Adil Ahmed Dar had taken shelter in the house before and after the bombing, with family members accused of providing support.
Presiding Judge Sandeep Gandotra barred any transfer or creation of third-party interests over the premises under Sections 25 and 26 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The order came while allowing an application filed by NIA’s Chief Investigating Officer Rajiv Om Parkash Pande.
The court observed that ownership by the main accused is not necessary for forfeiture if the property is proven to have facilitated acts of militancy. The case stems from FIR 20 of 2019 at Awantipora, which was later taken over by the NIA as RC-02/2019/NIA/JMU on February 20, 2019. The house was initially attached in March 2021 and the Designated Authority confirmed the action in May 2021. An appeal filed by Bano was dismissed on August 31, 2022.
The Deputy Commissioner Pulwama has been instructed to ensure compliance with the forfeiture directions until the NIA trial concludes.
