Mehbooba Mufti's confidant held for ‘links’ with Hizbul commander

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti’s close associate Waheed Parra on Wednesday.

Parra, who is the youth wing president of the party, is accused of having links with Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Naveed Babu.

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“He (Parra) has been charged with supporting Hizbul activities and for his alleged involvement in the case of arrested Hizbul Commander Naveen Babu,” a senior NIA officer told NDTV. Parra was arrested in Delhi and is being questioned at the NIA headquarters since Monday.

The NIA officer said Parra will be produced in Delhi for transit remand and then taken to Jammu.

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Parra is close to Mehbooba Mufti and has played an important role in reviving PDP in militancy-infested Pulwama. He is fighting the upcoming District Development Council (DDC) elections from Pulwama. The first phase of DDC polls will kick-start on November 28.

Parra’s name first came up during investigation into the case of suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh, who was arrested earlier this year while ferrying two alleged Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in a vehicle on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway.

Mehbooba Mufti reacted sharply to Parra’s arrest. She shared a video of the then Home Minister Rajnath Singh “applauding him for strengthening democracy in J&K” on Twitter.

“Waheed has no connection whatsoever with this man and is being falsely charged. All just to blackmail and intimidate PDP and other mainstream political parties in J&K,” she tweeted.