Justice Sanjay Dhar of the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has upheld the detention of a female terrorist associate of Lashkar, Shaista Maqbol, under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The court dismissed her petition challenging the detention, citing substantial evidence linking her to terrorist activities and individuals associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET).
The court's decision highlighted that the grounds for Maqbol's detention included her close association with Musaib Lakhvi, a notorious terrorist who was active in the Hajin area of North Kashmir from 2016 to 2018. Lakhvi is notably the nephew of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, a co-founder of LET and a designated global terrorist involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
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In its ruling, the court noted that Maqbol's connections extend beyond Lakhvi, as she has reportedly developed relationships with various local and foreign terrorists operating within Jammu and Kashmir. The grounds for her detention indicated that she has been given aliases by these terrorists, such as "Choti" and "Behan," suggesting an entrenched involvement in their networks.
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Furthermore, the court emphasized that Maqbol has allegedly maintained contact with Pakistan-based handlers, named Abu Zehran and Abu Hans, providing them with sensitive information regarding the movements of political leaders and other protected individuals via encrypted social media applications. This ongoing communication raises serious concerns about her potential threat to national security.
Justice Dhar asserted that the allegations against Maqbol demonstrate a clear and present danger, indicating that her activities are not merely remnants of past incidents but rather ongoing anti-national endeavors. The court underscored the necessity of her detention under the PSA to prevent her from furthering these activities.