NIA to probe arrest of 'alleged' terrorist Liyaqat

Home ministry today handed over the probe into arrest of 'alleged' terrorist Liyaqat to NIA. Delhi Police had claimed that Liyaqat was a militant "mastermind”, the J&K government maintained he was an inactive “militant” on his way home to surrender.

The Union home ministry on Monday handed over arrested 'alleged' terrorist Liyaqat's probe to NIA. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah asked the Centre for time-bound probe into the case.

Suspected-Hizbul-Mujahideen-terrorist-Liyaqat-Shah-who-was-arrested-in-Gorakhpur-is-seen-in-New-Delhi-HT-Sunil-Saxena

“I spoke to the home minister and asked for a speedy time-bound probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to establish the facts in this matter,” said Omar on Saturday.

While Delhi Police claimed that Liyaqat was the “mastermind” of a revenge attack for Afzal Guru’s hanging, the Jammu and Kashmir government maintained that he was an inactive “militant” living in PoK for the past 15 years and was on his way home to surrender.

The chief minister sees the Delhi police move as a setback to his flagship project of facilitating the return of former militants to Kashmir, sources said.

As the home minister was out of the Capital, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister had a telephonic conversation with him.

The sources said Shah’s first wife Ameena had applied for his amnesty on February 2, 2011, immediately after the policy was approved.

According to family sources, Shah had applied for passports in PoK 15 days ago.

“Liyaqat told us 10 days ago that he was coming and we informed the authorities,” she added.