A dry-fruit seller who was called for questioning, and his son and his brother detained in connection with the recently-busted interstate white-collar terror module, has died after he set himself on fire.
Hours after Bilal Ahmed Wani, a resident of Qazigund Kulgam, succumbed to his injuries, the National Investigation Agency claimed that his son was allegedly an active co-conspirator behind the November 10 Red Fort blast and had worked closely with the terrorist, Umar un Nabi, to plan the attack that claimed 13 lives and left scores injured.
NIA said Bilal’s son, Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish, a college student, was arrested from Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir in the case.
“NIA investigations have revealed that Jasir had allegedly provided technical support for carrying out terror attacks by modifying drones and attempting to make rockets ahead of the deadly car bomb blast.
The accused, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district of J&K, was an active co-conspirator behind the attack and had worked closely with the terrorist, Umar un Nabi, to plan the terror carnage,” NIA said.
Bilal’s family said he set himself on fire days after police detained his son and brother and also summoned him for questioning in connection with the case.
Officials said Bilal Ahmad Wani lived near the home of a key accused in the interstate terror module, Dr Adeel Rather. Rather was arrested two weeks ago in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, where he worked at a private hospital.
Bilal’s family said his son Jasir Bilal was detained by police, while his brother, Nabeel Ahmad was also taken into detention. According to the family, Bilal himself was called to the local station on Saturday morning and returned home later that night.
“He was quite disturbed over the detentions. ..The next morning Bilal got up and went outside and sprinkled petrol taken from the car and set himself ablaze,” the family said, adding that he was rushed to Srinagar hospital.
Officials said Bilal succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
On Sunday, former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti had flagged the issue and said “this level of high-handedness only deepens wounds and breeds despair”.
“Bilal Wani, an anguished father from Wanpora Qazigund, has set himself on fire after his son Jasir Bilal & brother Naveel Wani were detained by the police a few days ago. Petrified about their safety, he pleaded with the authorities to let him see them, but was denied.
“He was referred to SMHS Srinagar and is in critical condition. “This level of high-handedness only deepens wounds and breeds despair. When young men are picked up randomly, we risk driving an entire generation into fear, frustration, and ultimately towards darker paths,” Mehbooba said on Sunday.
