J-K govt seeks details of alleged Hizbul man from Delhi Police

Following pressure from some legislators in the Valley, the Omar Abdullah government has sought details about the arrest of Syed Liyaqat Ali Shah, 40, from the Delhi Police the arrest of Liyaqat, 40, who they claimed was a Hizbul Mujahideen militant who planned attacks to avenge Afzal Guru's hanging.

However, question are being raised whether he rally was a militant plotting a terror strike in the national capital during Holi or part of a group that was coming back as part of a rehabilitation policy of the Jammu and Kashmir government for surrendered militants.

sources say he had surrendered at the Sanauli checkpost on the Nepal border two days ago. Incidentally, this has been a preferred route for people living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to cross over to India to avail amnesty under the J&K government's rehabilitation policy. Under the rehabilitation plan, approximately 150 militants returned to the Valley in 2011, and around 115 in 2012. Most of them take the Nepal route.

''An officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police in Jammu & Kashmir Police cell in Delhi has been deputed to find out from Delhi Police as to how they were claiming that he had planned to carry out fidayeen attacks in the Capital,'' said Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo.

''We don't have any details about his arrest and whenever we get them, we will share with the House,'' said Kitchloo in the State Legislative Assembly here today.

The issue was raised in the House by Engineer Abdul Rashid, an Independent legislator from Lolab at the beginning of the question hour, saying that Liyaqat was returning home from across the border to surrender as per the state government's policy for rehabilitation of misguided Kashmiri youth who wanted to leave the gun and return home to lead a peaceful life.

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