NIA attaches properties of top JeM terrorist in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 16: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Thursday attached several immovable properties in Kashmir belonging to a top terrorist of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

According to an official statement issued by the NIA here, terrorist Sartaj Ahmed Mantoo’s properties including land measuring 19 marlas and 84 sq ft at Kisarigam in Pulwama district were attached on Wednesday on the orders of a special NIA court in Jammu.

Sartaj was arrested on January 31, 2020, and arms, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from his possession.

“He was chargesheeted on July 27, 2020, and is currently facing trial under relevant sections of the Arms Act, Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933,” the NIA statement said. “Along with his five co-accused members of the JeM, he was involved in transporting terrorists to the Kashmir.”

The statement said that going full steam with its efforts to destroy the terror network in J&K, the NIA attached several immovable properties of the top terrorist belonging to the JeM terrorist organisation.

“Since its formation in 2000 by Masood Azhar, the JeM has carried out several terrorist attacks in India including Jammu and Kashmir,” the probe agency said.

The JeM was enlisted as a ‘Designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation’ by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1267 and the group’s leader Masood Azhar was designated as a ‘Global Terrorist’ in 2019 by the UNSC.

The NIA had, just a week ago, attached six immovable properties of another top militant of JeM in Kashmir as part of its crackdown on terror operatives in J&K.