Srinagar, March 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday ordered attachment of immovable properties of those who have willingly given shelter to militants. On March 24, police announced it had started the process of attaching immovable properties that have been “used for purpose of terrorism”. The police identified over a dozen houses in Srinagar district which were “used” during 2020 and 2021 for “terrorism purposes”. In the last three decades, militants have often depended on local households for shelter. A majority of the encounters in Kashmir break out in such houses. “Srinagar Police is well aware of the difference between willful harboring of terrorists and one done under duress,” a police statement said. “The attachments being done are for properties where it has been proved beyond doubt that the house owner/member had willfully provided shelter/harbored terrorists, in most cases for days together, and that it was not done under any duress whatsoever,” he said. The attachment proceedings always come after investigation procedures in any case are at an advanced stage, it said. “Out of ignorance, some persons are trying to portray it as some kind of forced enforcement. But it is a fact that Sections 2(g) and 25 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 have been in vogue for decades and these are not some recent additions as claimed by some rumor mongers,” it added. “The decision regarding enforcement of these sections of law is due to the fact that many supporters of terrorism are willfully providing harbor and safe havens to terrorists who conduct attacks on civilians and security forces in Srinagar city,” the statement said. The police said in case of forced entry of militants into any house, the house owner or any other member claiming duress should timely inform the authorities. (UNI)
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