A criminal case has been registered against Naseema Bano from Kashmir, for her alleged involvement in recruiting youths into militants ranks, arranging arms, ammunition, communication and logistics for terrorists and terror organizations. Charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), it is said that she is the mother of slain terrorist Tauseef Ahmad Shah, who was killed in an encounter in May 2018 and sister of active terrorist Abbas Sheikh.
The arrest was reportedly made on June 20th in the Kulgam district, 67 km from Srinagar. She has been sanctioned custody in a women police station in Anantnag. Following her arrest, a spree of tweets and posts started rolling out on social media, blaming the J&K Police for targeting the family of terrorists. To this, the police issued a statement, "Jammu Kashmir police doesn’t target any family of terrorists unnecessarily unless solid evidence of their involvement in terrorism," the DNA reported.
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The Photo
In the photo, Bano can be seen posing with her son, Tauseef. She can also be seen with an automatic weapon. The photo had first surfaced in 2015 when Tauseef joined the militancy. It again started doing rounds on social media in the year 2018. Bano is in her mid-50s and was “involved in much more serious offences and her role has surfaced in recruiting at least two youth into terrorist ranks, arranging arms and ammunition, communication and logistics for terrorists and terror organisations," the police said The Wire reported.
Her son, Taufeeq Ahmad Sheikh was killed on May 6, 2018, along with five other militants. He was active for around five years.
“Just because she happens to be a woman or the mother of a killed terrorist does not make her immune to arrest. It is the prime duty of the police to arrest criminals to safeguard people it serves and that is what it has done. Anyone who wishes to challenge the decision is free to approach the court of law for redressal,” the police statement added.
Sister Of The Most Wanted Militant
Her son, Taufeeq Ahmad Sheikh was killed on May 6, 2018, along with five other militants. He was active for around five years. Bano's elder son, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh was arrested in November 2018, The Wire reported. He is currently detained at the Anantnag district Jail. Bano is also the sister of Abbas Sheikh, who has been arrested several times after he joined militancy in 1990. He is one of the “most wanted militants”, as per a fresh dossier prepared by the security forces, media reports said last month.
The arrest was reportedly made on June 20th in the Kulgam district. She has been sanctioned custody in a women police station in Anantnag.
The police had raided Bano's house in the intervening night of June 19 and June 20th and also performed a search operation in the entire village. They are now looking for Bano's daughter. Along with Bano, her husband Abdul Salam was also arrested but was released later.
Picture Credit- Zee News
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