NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency has absolved Liaquat Shah, accused of being a member of Hizbul Mujahideen, of all charges brought against him by Delhi Police.
Kashmir resident Liaquat Shah was arrested by Delhi police and labelled as a terrorist two years back.
The NIA, instead, named absconder Sabir Khan as the main accused who had allegedly planted weapons on Shah to project him as a militant of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen.
Ironically, according to chargesheet filed by NIA in a special court, the address of Khan alias Pathan as mentioned in a lodge in old Delhi as well as for his SIM card was Barrack NO. 2, Special Cell Niwas, BG 21, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi.
The central agency, that made its observation in the closure report, will write to the Ministry of Home Affairs about the conduct of Delhi Police officers who ‘framed’ Liaqat, reports said.
45 year-old, Shah was arrested by Delhi Police special cell on March 20, 2013 from near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh while crossing over to India from Nepal with his family
Jammu and Kashmir police had protested the arrest, saying Shah was returning home as per the state governments policy of allowing people, who had ex-filtrated to Pak Kashmir in early 1990s, to come back.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had flagged the issue about his arrest with the Union Home Ministry, welcomed the NIA move and said at least I am happy that truth has finally come out and I hope that security agencies do not target Kashmiris to achieve their ulterior motives.
The Home Ministry issued a notification in March, 2013 asking NIA to probe the case.
Shah said he had come to surrender under the Jammu and Kashmir government’s rehabilitation policy. Delhi Police alleged that Shah was involved in the conspiracy to carry out terror attacks in Delhi ahead of Holi. Agencies
