NIA’s note to MHA reveals ‘cops fabricated proof’ against Liyaqat

NEW DELHI: A National Investigation Agency’s note to the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals how the Delhi police’s counter-terror unit, the Special Cell, allegedly concocted evidence to frame Sayyed Liyaqat Shah, a former militant, who had returned to India in March 2013 to surrender under the J&K''s return policy.

Shaurya Karanbir Gurung

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 28

A National Investigation Agency’s note to the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals how the Delhi police’s counter-terror unit, the Special Cell, allegedly concocted evidence to frame Sayyed Liyaqat Shah, a former militant, who had returned to India in March 2013 to surrender under the J&K's return policy.

The note reveals Shah was framed by planting explosives at a guesthouse in old Delhi through an informer, showing a false place of his arrest, forcing him to call a Pakistani number and portraying him as a terrorist.

According to NIA, Special Cell's investigators were in constant contact with their informer, Sabir Khan Pathan (32), who planted the explosives at the guest house.

The NIA in its note, sources said, has requested the MHA to take strict action against nine Special Cell personnel. “The MHA is contemplating a major penalty involving dismissal from service as a departmental action against three Special Cell officers — Assistant Commissioner of Police Manishi Chandra, Inspector Sanjay Dutt and Head Constable Manish,” sources said.

The Special Cell said he was arrested near the Gorakhpur railway station in UP by Inspector Dharmender Kumar of the Special Cell on March 20, 2013. However, the NIA said Liyaqat was not arrested from Gorakhpur. "The investigation revealed that Inspector Dharmender Kumar and Head Constable Ahmad Khan created a false arrest memo and gave false information," sources said.

Liyaqat was asked to make a telephone call to Pakistan from the mobile phone of Dutt on March 21, 2013, said the sources. Liyaqat's handler, whom the call was made, directed him to go to Haji Arafat Guest House in old Delhi. The Special Cell raided the guest house in the night and recovered an AK-56 rifle with 60 cartridges, three hand grenades and other items.

The NIA has said Liyaqat only arrived at India to surrender and blamed the police for arresting him on false grounds.