J-K fake surrender mastermind lands in police net

However, the circumstances surrounding Bhat8217;s detention remain unclear.

Bhat turned himself in to J038;K Police today, said Ramesh Jall, SP, Budgam. But sources said that he was handed over by the Army8217;s 9 Para unit. They added that Bhat had sought refuge with the unit in Udhampur after the fake surrender8212;on November 98212;was exposed by this newspaper.

When contacted, R K Sen, PRO, Northern Command, said he had no information about the Army handing over Bhat to J038;K Police.

A close relative of J-K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Peerzada Mohammad Sayed, Bhat took 27 villagers from Chrar-e-Sharief to New Delhi, promising them a meeting with Sonia Gandhi and government jobs.

But in Delhi, he handed them over to the Army which paraded them at its Nagrota camp before the media, calling them 8216;8216;hardened militants8217;8217; who had given up their arms.

Bhat8217;s accomplices in the episode8212;Golu, a Congress activist, and Master Maqbool Malla8212;are already in police custody.

Bhat, who was on the run since the fake surrenders were exposed, had earlier sought anticipatory bail from a Srinagar court.

Last week, police had raided his house in Jawahar Nagar and questioned his wife and a domestic help.