THE NATIONAL Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a former sarpanch from Shopian in connection with its probe into suspended J&K Police officer Davinder Singh’s alleged connections with terror groups. Tariq Ahmed Mir, the former sarpanch, was arrested from his home in Baramulla on Thursday. He is said to be currently aligned with the BJP. Sources said the NIA picked up Mir after it found evidence that he had been supplying arms to terror groups. “Mir has been on the radar of agencies for a while. The NIA found evidence that he has been acting as a conduit for supply of weapons to terror groups. His connections with the Hizbul Mujahideen have been confirmed,” a security establishment officer said. Deputy SP Davinder Singh was arrested in January while travelling in his car with Hizbul militant Naveed Babu. The NIA had said he had provided shelter to the militant on multiple occasions. A Jammu court gave the NIA custody of Mir for six days. Sources said Mir was earlier with the National Conference but joined the BJP in 2015 after losing the panchayat elections. “His links to Hizbul have been known to the police since 2016,” an officer said.
