A designated Special Court under the NIA Act has ordered the forfeiture of a residential house in Hakripora, Pulwama, J&K after confirming it was used as a hideout and planning site by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operatives behind the 2019 Pulwama IED attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel.
The court declared the property registered in the name of Naseema Bano, wife of accused Peer Tariq Ahmed Shah as “proceeds of terrorism” under Sections 25 and 26 of the UAPA, barring any transfer or creation of third-party interest.
Presiding Judge Sandeep Gandotra allowed the plea filed by NIA Chief Investigating Officer Rajiv Om Parkash Pande seeking final forfeiture of the 9.5 marla house (Khasra No. 492 min). The NIA was represented by Special Public Prosecutor K. S. Pathania.
Investigators established that JeM militants Muhammad Umar Farooq, Sameer Ahmed Dar, and Adil Ahmed Dar used the house both before and after the February 14, 2019 attack, with household members allegedly providing logistical support. The court noted that under UAPA, ownership is irrelevant any property used to facilitate terrorism is liable for forfeiture.
The case originates from FIR 20/2019 of Awantipora Police, later taken over by the NIA as RC-02/2019/NIA/JMU. The property was attached in March 2021, with the attachment upheld in May 2021, and Bano’s appeal dismissed on August 31, 2022. After repeated notices, she failed to appear, prompting ex-parte proceedings.
The court directed that the house remain non-transferable and unencumbered, and sent the order to the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, for immediate compliance.
