Sleuths of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Saharanpur police achieved a major success when they nabbed Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Nazir Ahmed Wani, wanted for the last three decades for throwing a grenade at Saharanpur police personnel in Deoband.

Nazir, who hails from Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, had a case registered against him for attacking policemen in Deoband in 1993. The purpose of this attack was to kill the policemen and a reward of Rs 25,000 was also announced on him.

According to Saharanpur police, on August 26, 1993, some policemen were deployed for security at Union Tiraha in Deoband when a grenade was thrown at them, injuring two cops and two civilians named Jai Prakash Saini and Sukhbir. After this attack, the police had registered a case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and Explosive Substances Act. Investigation revealed that the accused of this attack was Nazir Ahmed Wani, who had been living in Deoband for a long time using fake documents.

Nazir Ahmed was a resident of village Inzak Sharifabad in Parimpora police station area of Budgam district of Kashmir. He was an active terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen who had been living in Deoband for a long time with the help of fake documents. Finally, on May 26, 1994, the police arrested Nazir Ahmed Wani. Then the police had registered another case against him for using fake documents. This FIR was registered in the new Deoband police station under sections 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC.

Nazir Ahmed got bail in 1994 itself and since then he never appeared in court. For the last more than 30 years, he was constantly changing his name and address. On May 20, 2024, a Saharanpur court issued a permanent warrant against Nazir Ahmed Wani, a long-time absconding warrantee. The Saharanpur police took cognisance of this warrant and announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for the arrest of Nazir Ahmed. The ATS was also deployed along with Saharanpur police for the arrest of Nazir Ahmed.

Finally, on Sunday, the police arrested him from Hakar Mulla village in Budgam district, where he was living. Hakar Mulla village is located near Soibuddh town in Kashmir. After necessary legal action, Nazir Ahmad Wani was brought from Kashmir to Saharanpur and presented before the court on Monday. The court has sent him to jail.