NIA takes over Kokernag encounter probe

Srinagar, Dec 20: Following a notification from the Union Home Ministry, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over investigations of the Kokernag, Anantnag encounter case in which three officers and a soldier were killed.

The case was registered at Police Station Kokernag and the NIA after taking over, re-registered it under FIR No RC-04/2023/NIA/JMU at the Jammu Police Station of the agency.

The FIR includes Sections 302 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 7, 25, and 27 of the Arms Act, and Sections 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 38, and 39 of the UAPA.

The agency would initiate a detailed investigation into the terror attack that occurred on September 13, claiming the lives of three senior officials from the Army and J&K Police including Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Aashish Dhonchak of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police DySP Humayun Muzammil Bhat.

The encounter resulted in the killing of top Lashkar Taiba terrorist Commander Uzair Khan by the security forces.

In the ongoing month, this is the second case handed over to NIA after the MHA notification.

Earlier, the killing of Inspector Masroor Ahmad Wani by terrorists in Eidgah was handed over to the probe agency.

The J&K Police officer was shot by terrorists while playing cricket at Eidgah ground in Srinagar on October 29.

The NIA Jammu Police Station is also investigating the Dhangri Rajouri terror attack case.

The NIA had previously arrested two accused, Nisar Ahmad and Mushtaq Hussain, for their involvement in the Dhangri terror attack.