NIA court says no terror link,frees ‘Hizbul militant’ Liyaqat on bail

The Jammu & Kashmir Police had,however,said that he was returning under the state’s rehabilitation policy.

Amid controversy,the government had transferred the case to the NIA.

District Judge I S Mehta granted bail to Liyaqat after noting that the arms and ammunition recovered by Delhi Police — allegedly on information obtained from him — were not recovered in Liyaqat’s presence. Liyaqat’s counsel said that the recovery was not made at his instance.

Liyaqat was bailed against a surety of Rs 20,000,paid by Abdul Ghaffar,the sarpanch of Liyaqat’s village Dardpora. Ghaffar had come to Delhi along with several members of his family. Ghaffar said at least 15 men from Dardpora had applied to return home from PoK,but had been waiting since Liyaqat’s arrest. They could all now come back,he said.

Liyaqat’s brother Inayat said the family was planning a big welcome for Liyaqat.

After his release,Liyaqat told reporters he did not know the charges against him until he heard them in court. “When the policemen came up to me at the border,I thought they were taking me to Jammu. I didn’t know they were arresting me,” he said.