The strong message agencies are sending out in attaching property of terrorists

The Jammu and Kashmir police has made several appeals to the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to harbour militants

On March 2, the National investigation Agency (NIA) attached the property of Basit Ahmad Reshi, the Pakistan based terrorist.

The action was taken in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla by the NIA.

This action comes close on the heels of the NIA attaching the Srinagar based property of Mushtaq Zargar, the founder and chief commander of the Al-Umar Mujahideen.

Ahmad Reshi was involved in the planning and execution of terror attacks at the Police Guard Post in Sopore in which one constable was killed and many others injured. When he joined the terror ranks, he was part of the Hizbul Mujahideen, but after his escape to Pakistan, he joined the The Resistence Front a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

Reshi's agriculture land measuring 9.25 Marlas has been attached under the provisions of UA(P) Act. Representatives of the State government and State Police assisted the NIA in the Attachment process, a note by the NIA read.

These actions signify the will of the agencies in sending out a strong message to terrorists and terror groups that they will not continue to enjoy property and also attack the state.

If one looks at the case of the separatists of Kashmir, their movement fell following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. However another big reason for the fall of the movement was the probe by the multiple agencies into terror funding.

The NIA and Enforcement Directorate systematically traced the funding routes, sources and blocked it. The likes of Yasin Malik or Asiya Andrabi lived lavish lives in India with the money they got, while paying peanuts to the youth meant to pelt stones at the security establishment.

An officer tells OneIndia that attaching the properties of these terrorists and separatists is important. One it sends a strong message that those spreading terror and havoc have no right to own land. Secondly the agencies are no longer going to keep quiet and allow such persons to operate on Indian soil.

The NIA also sent out a strong message when it attached the officer of the Hurriyat Conference, which was owned in part by Nayeem Khan, an accused charged in connection with Hurriyat Terror Funding case.

Till date the NIA has attached the properties of five designated terrorists. They include the US Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Canada based Hardeep Singh NIjjar and Pakistan based terrorists Mushtaq Zargar, Basil Ahmad Pir and Paramjit Singh Panwar.

It is not just the NIA which has been attaching properties. The Jammu and Kashmir police too have undertaken a similar drive.

In the case of the police, the houses of those sheltering the terrorists are being attached. In June last year, the Jammu and Kashmir police attached five residential properties on the charge that the owners were wilfully harbouring terrorists.

"The investigations proved beyond doubt that these houses were used for purpose of terrorism and shelter/ harbour was voluntarily/ knowingly given by the member(s) of the house... Many attacks on civilians, security forces were conspired and planned by terrorists while using these houses as hideouts," the J&K Police had said following the action.

In February this year, the police attached four houses in Srinagar on the same charge.

The police has made several appeals to the people and continues doing so. In February, the police had once again urged people not to harbour terrorists.

"It is again requested to all citizens not to give shelter/extend logistics to terrorists. In all cases of proved wilful shelter/logistic assistance to terrorists, arrest in the case and property attachments/seizures will take place, as it is fully mandated as per the existing laws," a statement by the Srinagar police read.