JK court rejects HM female bail plea

Jammu, Nov 3: A local court rejected the bail plea of Nahida Altaf, the first female militant of Hizb-ul Mujahideen (HM) to be arrested in Jammu and Kashmir.

Nahida (21) was arrested at Tanda check post on September 7 by the Special Operation Group (SPG) of Police along with eight grenades and one grenade launcher.

Second Additional Sessions Judge Jammu A K Koul held that the police report revealed that Nahida was on her way from Surankote to Jammu in a private car when the search of the vehicle by police led to the recovery of the grenades.

The prosecution opposed the bail plea, alleging the petitioner was involved in a very ''serious crime'' and the recovery of huge quantity of explosives proves her guilty.

However, counsel for Nahida, a law student, countered that his client was being implicated by the police. He contended that Nahida the was on her way to Amritsar for treatment of her mother, who had lost her legs in a road accident, when she was arrested by the police.

After hearing both sides and perusal of record, the Judge observed that three identity cards were seized from the accused in three different names. Also, many people were arrested under the Public Safety Act owing to her disclosures before the police.

During interrogation, Nahida had revealed that Hizb-ul Mujahideen had set up a wide network in the city and three of its militants were living in surrounding areas.

UNI