A probe by National Investigation Agency has revealed a vehicle of former PDP legislator Aijaz Ahmed Mir was used in the 2017 sensational attack on Amarnath pilgrims that left seven dead, Greater Kashmir has learnt.
Investigations into a high-profile weapon snatching case at the official residence of Mir in September last year also suspect the former lawmaker has “a soft corner towards separatists.”
An NIA official involved in the probe has urged J&K police to provide Mir’s “crime record”, if any, personal antecedents and personal integrity report for “investigations purpose” at the earliest.
The investigations, according to documents accessed by Greater Kashmir, reveal “one of his (Mir’s) vehicles was used during attack on the bus ferrying Amarnath Pilgrims in July 2017 that left seven pilgrims dead and 19 others injured.”
On September 28, Mir’s special police officer (SPO) Adil Bashir Sheikh, a resident of Zainapora village in Shopian, who was deployed at his (Mir’s) official residence (J-11) at high security Jawhar Nagar, decamped with seven service riffles of his colleagues and the personal pistol of the former legislator.
The incident had sent the entire security grid into a tizzy.
A case was registered in Police Station Rajbagh under FIR number 57/2018 against the SPO Adil, who joined Hizbul Mujahideen militant group after the weapons heist.
All the seven PSOs of Mir were suspended from the service after the weapon looting incident and are serving detention.
Deputy superintendent of police (NIA), Ravinder in his letter to Additional Director General of Police (police headquarters) states that it was believed the former lawmaker Mir has a “soft corner towards separatists.”
“It has also come to notice that once his (Mir’s) vehicle was used during attack on Amarnath Pilgrim (bus),” reads the letter, a copy of which is with Greater Kashmir.
“Therefore, your good self is requested to kindly provide crime record/antecedents (if any) and the integrity report in respect of (Aijaz Ahmed Mir) to Rakesh Sharma (SP/CIO) through mail, followed by hard copy on the New Delhi address at the earliest for the investigation purpose.”
The former PDP MLA from Wachi assembly segment of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, said he was ready to face any probe by the NIA.
“If NIA wants to check my record or antecedents or integrity, they are free to do so. I am ready to face the probe,” Mir told Greater Kashmir.