J&K Police has attached the house of jailed former president of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom. The Police said Qayoom had used his Srinagar house for “furtherance of terrorist activities”.
“Nalin Prabhat, DG-P, orders the attachment of the property of Pakistani agent and terrorist, Mian Qayoom!,” J&K Police said on X.
Soon after the order the house was attached.
Mian Qayoom was arrested by J&K Police on June 25, 2024 in the killing of advocate Babar Qadri on September 22, 2020. Qayoom has since then been lodged in jail.
According to Police, the action follows an investigation in a 2009 FIR registered at Police Station Shaheed Gunj under sections 120, 120-B, 121, and 153-A of the RPC and sections 13, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The case pertains to a 2009 seminar which was organised by separatist leaders at Hotel Jahangir, Srinagar, on the death anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, where Qayoom and others, allegedly delivered anti-India speeches and raised pro-secession slogans.
“Whereas, during investigation, statements of the witnesses were recorded and it came to fore that the participants of the seminar have raised anti-national slogans and delivered inflammatory speeches, thus provoking the audiences against the integrity of India and urging the crowd to support secession of J&K from the union of India. Whereas, on the strength of the evidence collected, accused persons including Mian Abdul Qayoom, were found involved in the commission of the offences levelled against them,” the order issued by the DGP read.
Police said during searches of Qayoom’s residence at Bulbul Bagh, Barzulla, they recovered banned literature, a Hizbul Mujahideen letterhead, a seal impression of the outfit, and a letter from Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin addressed to then U.S. President Bill Clinton.
“..Accordingly, Sections 38 and 39 UAPA were invoked in the instant case,” the order read.
“Whereas, the evidence collected by the Investigating Officer has prima facie established that accused Mian Qayoom of Bulbul Bagh, Barzulla, Srinagar has used his residential premises consisting of 2 storeyed house along-with land measuring 02 Kanals, 01 Marla and 90 Sqft, for concealing incriminatory material and for furtherance of terrorist activities. Whereas, the said property registered 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. Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by Section 25 of UAPA, prior approval is accorded for attachment…,” the order read.
