A dry-fruit seller from Qazigund area of south Kashmir, who set himself on fire following the arrest of his son and brother in connection with a terror module probe, died of burn injuries at a Srinagar hospital on Monday night.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, Bilal Ahmad Wani, in his mid-50s and a resident of Wanpoh village in Anantnag district, suffered critical burns in the self-immolation attempt at his home on Sunday morning. He was shifted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar, where he succumbed during treatment.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Bilal’s son Jasir Ahmad Wani alias Danish and brother Naveel Ahmad Wani had been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as part of the ongoing investigation into the November 10 car bomb blast near Red Fort in Delhi that killed 13 people.
The NIA on Tuesday stated that Jasir Ahmad Wani was an “active co-conspirator” of Dr Umar un Nabi, the main accused who was driving the explosive-laden vehicle. “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 agency said in a statement.
The family of Bilal Ahmad Wani maintains that both arrested persons are innocent. Speaking to reporters, Naseema Akhtar, sister-in-law of the deceased, said the family had no connection with militancy and only knew two other accused persons — Dr Adeel Rather and Dr Muzaffar Ahmad Rather — because they were neighbours and educated professionals.
“Innocent people are being arrested here for having a connection with Dr Adeel Rather. If one man commits a mistake, that does not make everyone a culprit,” she said.
Bilal Ahmad Wani is the fifth civilian from Kashmir to die either in the Red Fort blast or during the subsequent investigation. Separately, six Kashmiri policemen and forensic employees have also lost their lives in related incidents.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
