Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 21: Police in Srinagar attached five residential houses today for wilful harbouring of militants.
A police spokesman said that the investigations proved beyond doubt that these houses were used for the purpose of militancy. It said that the shelter and harbouring was voluntarily and knowingly given by the members of these houses.
He said that many attacks on civilians, security forces were conspired and planned by militants while using these houses as hideouts.
The properties have been attached under Sections 2(g) and 25 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
The attached five residential houses include two in Parimpora and one each in Pantha Chowk, Nowhatta and Zakoora areas of Srinagar. The cases were registered against the house owners under FIR Nos. 257/2020 in Police Station Parimpora, FIR No. 132/2021 Police Station Pantha Chowk, FIR No. 35/2021 Police Station Nowhatta, and FIR No. 02/2022 Police Station Zakoora.
The spokesman said that some more such properties have been identified and any wilful harbouring of militants will be strongly dealt under the law.
Police appealed citizens not to harbour or give shelter to militants, failing which they shall be liable to action under law including attachment proceedings.
In case of any forced or coercive entry by militants into any house, the matter should be brought to the notice of Police immediately.
Earlier in March this year, police issued a statement saying that properties of those harbouring militants willfully will be attached.
It had said that those properties will be attached where it has been proved beyond doubt that the house owner/member had wilfully provided shelter/ harboured (militants), in most cases for days together and that it was not done under any duress whatsoever.
Police had said that the decision regarding enforcement of these sections of law is due to the fact that many supporters of (militancy) are wilfully providing harbour and safe havens to (militants) who conduct attacks on civilians and security forces in Srinagar City.”
“The onus always lies on the house owner/member to prove duress by informing the authorities well in time that there is/was forceful entry of terrorists into his/her house,” police had said.
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