‘Lala was won over by Pak army in PoJK jail’
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Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 29: As the State Investigation Agency (SIA) came across very vital clues about involvement of Rafiq Lala in narco-terrorism case, it conducted raids at nine locations in Poonch including contacts of Lala and others to ascertain more details about him regarding his involvement. Raids are expected to continue for two-three more days as list of his contacts is quite long.
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The SIA officials were not ready to comment on the raids saying they are still on and will continue.
However, reliable sources told the Excelsior that Rafiq Lala, a resident of Danna Duyiyan in Poonch, had spent nearly two years in jail in Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) in drugs smuggling case a long back where he was won over by Pakistan army, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and some militant commanders to work for them and smuggle narcotics and weaponry from the LoC to help militancy sustain in Jammu and Kashmir.
In turn, he was promised handsome amount from the sale of narcotics in the UT, they said.
The SIA teams comprising officials and constables initially carried out search at the residence of Rafiq Lala followed by seven other places where he used to stay quite frequently and had developed links though all of them may not be aware of Lala’s narco-terror racket.
“Some of the persons were questioned by the SIA teams about activities of Rafiq Lala and vital clues were gathered about his activities. Lala has not only links with top militant commanders and narco smugglers in Pakistan and PoJK but also with Pak army and ISI,” the officials said, adding details are being gathered to connect his entire network to take the case to logical conclusion.
Lala was arrested on March 3 along with seven kilograms heroin costing several crores in the international market, Rs 2.3 cr cash, pistol and cartridges. On July 1, the SIA had taken him on remand for questioning in view of his deep connections in Pakistan and PoJK.
“Initially Lala acted as narco smuggler but gradually, Pakistan army and ISI besides militant commanders managed to persuade him to smuggle consignments of arms, ammunition and explosives also from Pakistan and PoJK to Poonch for subsequently handing them over to militants, mostly in South Kashmir and sometimes in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch,” the sources said.
They added that Rafiq Lala was involved in drug peddling since 2003-04.
As per the sources, it is being ascertained as to how many consignments of weaponry and narcotics, Lala and his associates had smuggled from Pakistan and PoJK and provided to militants and narco smugglers.
“Lala isn’t ready to provide all details. In fact, he is trying to mislead the investigators. However, we will get details through questioning of his contacts,” the sources said, adding the case is quite complex as the narco-smugglers had destroyed many evidences including mobile telephones though one Pakistani SIM was found in possession of Lala which has given vital clues to the SIA.
Senior officers of the SIA are personally monitoring investigations in this case.
Lala, as per the sources, had his contacts in several areas of Poonch district and the SIA is in the process of identifying all of them to subject them to sustained questioning to extract more clues about narco-terrorism smuggling racket.
Sources said statements of many contacts of Rafiq Lala have been recorded and the process will continue during next two to three days. They added that the SIA teams will stay in the border district till the process is completed.
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