NIA recommends tough action against Delhi Police officials

NEW DELHI: NIA has recommended departmental action with severe punishment against at least five officials of Delhi Police's elite Special Cell for allegedly fabricating a case against a resident of Kashmir and projecting him as a 'suicide attacker' of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group.

They include an officer of the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police and a couple of inspectors who had allegedly connived with Aslam Halka, who had gone to Nepal to receive Liyakat Shah, a resident of Lolab in North Kashmir, official sources said.

They said National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recommended regular departmental action with major penalty for the officials of the anti-terror cell of Delhi Police.

NIA had submitted a report on the role of Delhi Police's Special Cell officials after which top sources in the Home Ministry indicated that tough action will be taken against the delinquent officers who had allegedly "framed and fabricated" terror charges against Shah.

The NIA report left the action against the erring police officials to the discretion of the Ministry.

The sources said that if action was taken against the police officials, NIA may proceed for prosecution of Halka for allegedly being a part of the conspiracy in fabricating a false case against Shah, who is at present out on bail.

The court, while taking cognisance of the charge sheet, has fixed April 6 as the next date of hearing.

Shah was arrested by Delhi Police on March 20, 2013 on charges of planning to carry out a terror strike in the national capital. However, after angry reaction from the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, the case was transferred to NIA for an impartial probe.