SERIOUS TERROR CHARGES: YALE UNIVERSITY, USA, MAINTAINS TOTAL SILENCE REGARDING PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP FOR WAHEED PARA
May 8, 2023 | Author: Waseem Gul
PDP leader Waheed Para (centre) comes out of jail after J&K High Court granted him bail, nearly two years after his arrest by the NIA on charges of terror links, in Srinagar. (PTI)
Yale University Has Made Para ‘Peace Fellow’ at Its International Leadership Center, hailed him for “strengthening democracy and peace in Kashmir”
No Response To Questions Posed By Newspaperwalla.com Regarding Serious Terror Charges Against Waheed Para
NIA Charge Sheet Against Waheed Para: Subterfuges, deceit, double dealing against Indian State For Over 13 Years (2007-2020)
“Close links with foreign/local terrorists, funded and abetted terrorist activities”
“Para was Pakistan’s asset. The pretension was with India. Para had the permission of the Pakistani establishments to keep throwing crumbs at the Indian security agencies, allowing them petty tactical gains. Systematically, he pushed the overall situation, slowly but surely, in favour of Pakistan in a strategic sense. What played out over 13 years (2007-2020) was a saga of subterfuges, deceit and double dealing”: NIA Charge Sheet In Court Of Special Judge, (Designated Under NIA Act), Additional Sessions Judge TADA/ POTA At Srinagar
Gayatri Mohan and Waseem Gul
On April 19, Kashmir’s social media was abuzz with the news that Waheed Para, president of Youth PDP, the youth wing of Peoples Democratic Party, has been decorated with a prestigious Fellowship of Yale University, USA.
It is no secret in J&K that Waheed Para has been charge-sheeted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) on serious terror charges and is currently on bail. The charges against Para include having “Close links with foreign/local terrorists, funded and abetted terrorist activities”.
The NIA chargesheet also stated that the Waheed Para case is a saga of subterfuge, deceit and double dealing.
No Response Of Yale University To Questions Posted By Newspaperwalla.com
Newspaperwalla.com tried to reach out to Yale University to find out whether the varsity is aware that Para has been charged by the NIA for working with terrorists of dreaded terror organizations. These terror groups are banned in India and are on the list of the US Treasury as ‘Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations’.
The 2023 Peace Fellowship had been announced for Para by the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. Newspaperwalla.com mailed the queries to the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and also to Yale University. The university and Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs did not respond to our queries, mailed to them repeatedly for four days.
Questions We Posed To Yale University
-
Before naming Mr Para for the fellowship, did Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs inquire from Mr Para whether he is facing terror charges or criminal charges in an authorized court of law of the Government Of India?
-
Before naming Mr Para for the fellowship, did Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs carry out a check on whether Mr Para is facing terror charges or criminal charges in an authorized court of law of the Government Of India?
-
Did Mr Para submit to Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs that he is facing terror charges or criminal charges in an authorized court of law of the Government of India?
-
As per the UN Convention On Terror, did Mr Para make any such declaration to Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs to this effect?
-
Considering that information on the terror charges against Mr Para in an authorized court of law of the Government of India is available in several media reports online, did Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs conduct any such check?
-
Did Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs conduct a check on the antecedents of Mr Para before bestowing him with the fellowship?
Charge Sheet Against Para By Police Station Counter Intelligence (CIK), Srinagar
In 2014, Para was appointed as the youth wing president of PDP by party president Mehbooba Mufti. He was appointed as Political Analyst to J&K CM Mr Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in June 2015. In 2016, Para was appointed as Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council. He held the position till the dissolution of the J&K Assembly in 2018.
In 2021, Police Station Counter Intelligence (CIK), Srinagar, filed the charge-sheet against Waheed Para before the Court of Special Judge (designated under NIA Act), Additional Sessions Judge TADA/ POTA at Srinagar.
Para used to run a local media cable network named HBN Channel in his hometown Pulwama. The state initiated an investigation against Para in January 2021.
According to the charge sheet, Para’s terror connection started in the year 2007 when he visited Pakistan and interviewed United Jihad Council (UJC) Chief and Hizbul Mujahideen chief commander Mohammad Yousuf Shah, also known as Syed Salahu-ud-din.
Hizbul Mujahideen is an Islamist militant organization operating in Kashmir region, and is the military wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. Since its inception, Hizb has been supported and financed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). It has been designated a terrorist group by the European Union, India, Canada, and the United States. Hizb remains a lawfully-operating organisation in Pakistan.
In Charge Sheet: Why Salahu-ud-din’s Interview Was Important
The interview was in video format and was telecast. Security experts and intelligence analysts have firmly concluded that space in the print and electronic media has been one of the game changing strategies for United Jihad Council, a conglomeration of anti-India terrorist outfits in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. UJC has used media space to gain legitimacy and respectability for terrorism and its leaders.
According to the charge sheet, the video interview became the turning point for Para as well as UJC and Hizbul Mujahideen. The charge sheet stated that courtesy the interview, Salahu-ud-din gained phenomenal publicity. The connected mileage dragged him out of the stigma of being the head of the terrorist outfit to some kind of a freedom fighter, said the charge sheet.
For Para too, the interview became a game changer. He became a hot commodity sought after by an array of local political elites. The charge sheet said that Para’s value increased manifold. He became an asset through whom the Pakistani influence in Kashmir (essentially exercised through terrorist(s) guns) could be variously leveraged to protect and promote narrow personal and party interests at the cost of the Indian State.
The charge sheet stated that now, Para was ensconced in the safety of a recognized political party which was in the control of the formal powers of governmental authority. Thereafter, Para “systematically went about strengthening himself by craftily deepening his roots on two sides of the divide – India and Pakistan.”
Para’s Strategy According To CIK Charge Sheet
According to the charge sheet, Para’s strategy was to make the Indian side believe that he established links with Pakistan to help India. States the charge sheet: As regards Pakistan, Para was their asset. The pretension was with India. Para had the permission of the Pakistani establishments to keep throwing crumbs at the Indian security agencies, allowing them petty tactical gains. Systematically, he pushed the overall situation, slowly but surely, in favour of Pakistan in a strategic sense. “What played out over 13 years (2007-2020) was a saga of subterfuge, deceit and double dealing,” said the charge sheet.
It highlights that Para steadily developed links with terrorists through over ground workers (OGWS). One of Para’s close contacts was Yousuf Lone, also known as Gadoora. He was a staunch OGW of Lashkar e Taiba (LeT). Gadoora was actively involved in subversive activities including the killing of two police personnel at Nowgam, Kashmir, in April 2011. Gadoora was also involved in planting IED in a Maruti car at Nowgam Bridge in May 2012.
Charge Sheet Said Para Was Closely Associated With Dreaded Terrorists, OGWs
Investigation has revealed that Gadoora and other OGWs would often meet Para at his cable network office in Pulwama. Some of these OGWs and some of the OGWS who used to meet Para subsequently became active terrorists of Hizb.
The investigation established that Para had close links with two dreaded Pakistani terrorists of LeT – Abu Qasim and Abu Dujana. He had been seen meeting them through Gadoora during 2014-15 and 2016-2017. Qasim and Dujana were involved in a series of killings of security forces, police personnel and other subversive activities across Kashmir valley and in Jammu region. They were killed in encounters with security forces/police in October 2015 and August 2017 respectively.
Dujana was the chief operational Commander of LeT in Kashmir. He was instrumental in recruiting Kashmiri youths in LeT outfit. He also played the instrumental role in the killing of two CRPF personnel at Sangam Bijbehara, and the attack on a police party at Pampore in which two constables of JK Armed Police, and many other terror actions.
The charge sheet stated that Para was killing two birds with one stone. He was enjoying the power and perks of a political heavyweight. Simultaneously, he was using his political heft to stay in the good books of Pakistan-supported terrorists and secessionist elements.
Charge Sheet Info On How Para Tried To Arrange 5 AK-47 rifles for terrorists
The investigation revealed that in 2017, Para made hectic efforts to arrange 5 AK-47 rifles and ammunition from Kupwara for terrorists. Para planned to bring these 5 AK-47 rifles from Kupwara in his own vehicle through a Personal Security Officer (PSO), and pay Rs 1 lakh for each rifle. According to the charge sheet, it was decided that one PSO without service weapon would go with Para to collect an AK-47 from Kupwara. The planning was that on the way back, if the vehicle was intercepted by security forces, it would be presumed that the AK-47 is an authorized weapon of the PSO.
The charge sheet states that due to certain circumstances, the deal did not materialize. The person who had to arrange the rifles got entangled in a dispute arising out of his love affair. CIK stated that it had an eye-witness for this deal.
Certified Disclosure Of Top-Ranking Hizb Terrorist in Charge Sheet:
How Para Funded Terrorists For Electoral And Other Gains
The charge sheet stated that Para was funding the terrorists. This was substantiated by the disclosure statement made by Syed Naveed Ahmad Shah @ Naveed Babu, a top-ranking terrorist of Hizb. The disclosure statement was made by Naveed Babu before the NIA Court at Jammu.
According to the charge sheet, the certified copy of the disclosure statement revealed the following:
In February/March 2019, before the Parliamentary elections in J&K, Naveed was staying at Jammu in the rented house of Irfan Shafi Mir. Irfan contacted Para through VOIP application SIGNAL, and asked him to talk with Naveed Babu.
In this conversation, Para sought favour of Hizb ul Mujahideen in the forthcoming election. He asked Naveed that Hizb must take care of the PDP workers who were campaigning in Pulwama district. The certified copy of the disclosure statement is part of the record against Para.
Disclosure Statement Of Naveed Babu, a top-ranking terrorist of Hizb
Naveed stated the following in his disclosure statement:
Irfan told him (Naveed) that Para paid Rs 10 lakh to Irfan for Naveed. The money was meant to arrange weapons. Irfan told Naveed that he has handed over Rs 10 lakh to Devinder Singh. Devinder was formerly a DSP. He was later in custody in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) case.
Naveed said Irfan told him that the money was for purchase of five AK-47 Rifles for Hizb. The charge sheet stated that weapons can be purchased in the grey market in Kashmir. Sometimes these weapons are smuggled in through land routes, and sometimes by drone droppings.
Para’s cell phone (iPhone) was seized by NIA Jammu at the time of his arrest on November 25, 2020. The data retrieved from Para’s cell phone revealed that he had received messages from some Pakistani numbers.
At the time of his initial investigation, Para had told the officers that he was using only one mail address. But the data retrieved from his cell phone revealed that he is using three email addresses.
Para Linked With Terrorists Across Border, Secessionist Elements In Kashmir: Charge Sheet
According to the charge sheet, Para was found linked with terrorists across the border and secessionist elements in Kashmir. “As per technical intelligence inputs received from highly confidential and very sensitive intelligence agencies through CID Headquarters, Para was in touch with terrorists in Pakistan, sometimes directly and at other times through OGWs or middlemen,” stated the charge sheet.
Intelligence inputs revealed that from June 21 to August 1, 2014, Para was in contact with a Hizb operative who was using the user Id asif300.
According to the charge sheet, in January 2015, a telephonic conversation took place between Para and a terrorist associated with terror group Al-Badr. The terrorist was using Pak and J&K mobile numbers.
The charge sheet stated that Para was in contact with Masood @Rather Masood, who had a J&K mobile number. Masood was in contact with an Al-Badr Terrorist Hamza Burhan, who used a Pakistani number. One Tariq Ahmad Ganie, a JK based Al-Badr suspect, was also in contact with Para. On June 5, 2014, a PAK-based LeT associate named Peera tried to contact Para on his mobile number, but the call did not mature.
Ultra-Sensitive Intelligence Inputs Of Investigation Agencies In Charge Sheet
The ultra-sensitive intelligence inputs of the investigation agencies revealed that Para exchanged emails with secessionist elements. These included GM Safi, Chairman of Tehreek-i-Hurriyat, who lives in Pakistan, and Altaf Ahmad Shah @Fantosh, the son-in-law of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The charge sheet stated that the emails exchanged between Para and the Pakistan-based operatives “are not only suspicious but seditious in nature.”
In a mail exchanged in December 2015, Safi requested that Syed Ali Geelani should consider this (some issue) as an important matter and asked for a fresh proposal.
In another mail in December 2013, Para spoke about the arrest of one Bashir Ahmad Baba (a Kashmiri) in Ahmedabad on March 13, 2010. Para recommended the urgent need for a very good lawyer for Baba.
Further investigation revealed that Bashir Ahmad Baba of Srinagar had been arrested by Anti-Terrorist Squad of Ahmedabad, Gujarat in March 2010 in a terror- related case. “The arrested terrorist whom WRP (Waheed Rehman Para) was eager to help is presently lodged in a jail at Gujarat,” said the charge sheet.
Charge-Sheet Says Para Tried To Get A Political Worker Killed By Terrorists
The investigation revealed that in 2017, a political worker (Protected Witness, name withheld) and Para developed animosity and personal grudge with each other on some political issues. Subsequently the man was attacked by terrorists near Cricket Stadium Pulwama in September 2018. Fortunately, he escaped unhurt.
In November 2018, the man’s vehicle was again intercepted by terrorists at Litter, Pulwama. He managed to escape from the spot but his vehicle was set ablaze by the terrorists. Para “used his nexus with terrorists to harm, scare and settle scores with a political rival by way of organizing attacks by the terrorists,” said the charge sheet.
Para’s Links With Foreign, Local Terrorists of Banned Lashkar-e- Taiba (LeT), Hizb through OGWs: Charge Sheet
In light of the investigation, police station Counter Intelligence (CIK) Srinagar stated that Para was holding a high political position in a regional political party of J&K. “He used his political position and clout in formal power circles, established links with foreign as well as local terrorists of proscribed organization Lashkar-e- Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen through OGWs.” This was done through telephonic conversations and emails with terrorists and secessionist elements who have waged war against the Republic of India with the object to force the UT of Jammu & Kashmir to secede from India and annex it with Pakistan.
The investigative agency said it had been established that Para has close links with foreign/local terrorists. “As part of a criminal conspiracy, he tried to arrange weapons for them, aid and fund them. He abetted terrorist/unlawful activities and motivated OGWS to join terrorist ranks,” said the charge sheet.
It further added: During investigation it was found that Para used to receive instructions and advice from Pakistan-based secessionist and terrorist leaders, communicated action-taken reports and a host of information in furtherance of terrorism and secessionism.
The charge sheet stated: “It is alleged that by using his influence, WRP managed the appointment of persons with tainted backgrounds in government departments.” In this context, the charge sheet specifies, “This aspect of investigation requires time to convert the information to admissible evidence.”
Para Granted Bail By J&K HC With Observations
In May 2022, the High Court Of Jammu And Kashmir And Ladakh At Srinagar allowed the bail application of Waheed Para with the following observations:
(i) That the appellant will make himself available before the Investigating Officer of the case, as and when required to do so;
(ii)That he will not leave the UT of Jammu and Kashmir without prior permission of the learned trial Court;
(iii) That he shall surrender his passport, if any, before Investigation
Officer against proper receipt; and,
(iv) That he will appear before the learned trial Court on each and every hearing of the case.
While allowing the bail plea, the High Court specified: “The observations made in this order are restricted to the disposal of this appeal and shall not be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.”
J&K UT Challenged Bail For Para In Supreme Court
In October 2022, The Union Territory of J&K filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court regarding the grant of bail to Waheed Para.
Commenting on the SLP, a double-judge bench of the Supreme Court noted: “We would not like interfere with the aspect of the grant of bail but we are certainly not giving our imprimatur to any of the observations coming in the impugned order as regards the interpretation of the UAPA Act.”
Not giving our imprimatur. With these words, the Supreme Court refused to grant its authoritative approval to the observations in the order issued by the J&K High Court Srinagar with regard to the interpretation of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Many of the charges mentioned in the charge sheet against Waheed Para by Police Station Counter Intelligence (CIK), Srinagar have been widely reported in the media for about two years.
After Yale Announcement, Ms Mehbooba Mufti’s Glowing Praise For Mr Waheed Para
On April 19, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of J&K and president of JK People’s Democratic Party (PDP) tweeted:
Congratulations to Waheed Para, President @YouthJKPDP on his selection as the inaugural Yale Peace Fellow at Yale University. His contributions towards strengthening democracy & peace in Kashmir has been outstanding. I wish him luck.
Ms Mufti tweeted the glowing words for Para following the announcement made by Yale University, USA, on April 18. Yale University is a private Ivy League research university, named “Kashmir’s Waheed Ur Rehman Para as the inaugural Yale Peace Fellow at Yale’s International Leadership Center.”
Statement Issued By Yale For Waheed Para
According to a statement issued by Yale, “The Peace Fellowship brings emerging leaders on peace to Yale for an intensive period of research, mentoring and training; and to participate in high-level strategy events on peace and conflict resolution.”
“We are committed to fostering excellence in peace leadership at a moment when traditional institutions and mechanisms are seriously challenged,” said Emma Sky, director of the International Leadership Center at Yale. “The Peace Fellowship aims to build up the capacity of a rising generation of peacemakers and mediators; to distill lessons in peace building; and to forge international partnerships.”
The write-up shall be updated as and when newspaperwalla.com receives a response from Yale.
Ms Mohan is Editor and Mr Gul is Roving Editor for newspaperwalla.com