NIA attaches house of Kashmiri terrorist released with Masood Azhar

Zargar was released along with JeM chief Masood Azhar in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight 814 (IC 814) at Kandahar in 1999.

| Updated: 02 March, 2023 1:46 pm IST

NIA headquarters in Delhi (TNI photo By Amit Rawat)

In a massive action, India’s anti-terror probe agency attached the property of Pakistan-based Kashmiri terrorist Mushtaq Zargar, who heads the Al-Umar Mujahideen terror outfit on Thursday.

Zargar or Latram’s house spread over two Marlas of land in Nowhatta, Srinagar has been attached by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

He was released along with Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight 814 (IC 814) at Kandahar, Afghanistan in 1999.

Zargar was also involved in the kidnapping of former Union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s daughter, Rubaiya Sayeed in 1989.

An NIA spokesperson said the procedure was carried out on Thursday by a team of NIA along with the representative of district administration and local police.

He is a ‘designated individual terrorist’ under the UA(P)A and has been operating from Pakistan ever since his release and has been funding terror activities in the Valley.

“Zargar was earlier associated with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and was responsible for several terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also been involved in other heinous crimes, including murders, and has a close association with other terror outfits such, as Al-Qaeda and JeM,” the official said.

According to NIA, Zargar was designated a terrorist by the Union government under the Fourth Schedule of UA(P)A.

“He grew up in Nowhatta area of Srinagar and joined JKLF. In 1989, he was one of the members who kidnapped Rubaiya Sayeed, and negotiated her release in exchange for five terrorists,” the official said.

“He was arrested on May 15, 1992, and was released from jail on December 31, 1999, as part of the Indian Airlines Flight 814 hostage exchange deal,” the official added.