Dar also took the same line, saying his father was killed and an uncle abducted by terrorists for a Rs 5-lakh ransom because another uncle was earlier a Union deputy home minister and his family had “links with politicians”. He claimed he and Keen were partners in spice business and often came to Delhi.

Mir said he came to the Capital in December 1998 after his family was “killed by terrorists” in Kashmir.

They argued that some “plain-clothes men” arrested them on January 2, 2002 and held them till their arrest was recorded on January 14.

This, they contended, came after police “sensed” that their family had sought help from then J-K Legislative Council chairman Abdul Rashid Dar, who had in turn informed Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

Tracking back
The case traces back to intelligence information, received in the last week of December 2001, that suspected LeT members were hoarding large quantities of explosives in Delhi. Intelligence agencies also received a specific input on January 14, 2002 — 12 days before the Republic Day — about suspects holed up in room number 3 of Karan Hostel in Kotla Mubarakpur, South Delhi.

A team led by Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma raided the spot the same day and arrested the four.

Besides Rs 35 lakh stashed under the beds, 8.18 kg of RDX/PETN explosives, two live electronic detonators and a polythene bag with the logo ‘Mission Kashmir’ were seized from the room.

On November 22, 2007, the four were sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for conspiracy to wage war and collecting arms with intention to wage war against the state (IPC Sections 121-A and 122) and punishment under various provisions of the Explosives Substances Act and POTA.

... contd.