SRINAGAR, Dec 20: An NIA special court in Budgam district has issued a non-bailable warrant against Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen chief Mohammad Yousuf Shah, known by his alias Syed Salah-ud-din, directing the police to arrest him.
The Court of Special Judge designated under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act passed the order while hearing a case registered under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Section 506 of the erstwhile Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), which governed J&K prior to 2019.
The court observed that the investigating officer had gathered sufficient evidence implicating Salah-ud-din in offences under Sections 13, 18, 20, and 39 of the UAPA, relating to threats to sovereignty, terror conspiracy, and involvement in terrorist activities. Citing Section 73 of the CrPC, the court said the accused had been evading arrest and thus warranted a non-bailable order.
Shah, who fled to Pakistan in 1993, was designated a terrorist by the Government of India in 2020. He also heads the United Jihad Council (UJC), an umbrella group of several militant outfits. The NIA had attached properties linked to him and his two sons in 2023. Both sons were dismissed from government service in 2021 following their arrest in a terror funding case.
