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Will starlet’s murder probe lead to terror investigation revelations?
Laila Khan’s car, which allegedly carried the explosives for the blast, was traced to Kishtawar
Riyaz Wani
Srinagar
Bollywood starlet Laila Khan had mysteriously gone missing and was supposed to have moved to Dubai with her family to escape the ongoing probe into the Delhi High Court blast. She came under the scanners of the security agencies after her car, which allegedly carried the explosives for the blast, was traced to Kishtawar in Jammu & Kashmir. It now turns out that Khan has been murdered along with four members of her family around 11 months ago. At this stage of the investigations it is not established if the murder is a result of her alleged terror links.
Parvez Ahmad Tak, a resident of Kishtawar in J&K, who was arrested by police on June 21 for his alleged terror links has revealed that the Khan family was shot dead almost a year ago and their bodies disposed were off. Tak, himself facing charges of terror links, has so far revealed an unedifying story of suspense, murder and terror.
Tak, 35, is also allegedly the step-father of Laila, having reportedly married her mother Salena Patel, 20 years his senior. The J&K Police started investigating the case after a Mistubishi Outlander (MH02-AY-7867)—the vehicle allegedly used to carry the explosives used in the Delhi High court blast—was recovered from his rented shop in Kishtawar a few months back. In police custody, inform sources, Tak has spilled the beans, ending the year-long mystery about the disappearance of Laila and her family.
However, earlier in his custody Tak, who has even unsuccessfully fought 2008 election in J&K, had reportedly told police that Khan and five members of Laila Khan’s family are alive and have fled to Dubai using fake passports. Tak also told police that Laila had married a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, even identifying him as Sonu.
The challenge for the police now is to trace the bodies of Laila and her family members. The Additional Superintendent of Police, Kishtawar, and Kuldeep Singh said as much. “Recovery of bodies will take help us catch real culprits,” Singh said.”Unless bodies are recovered nothing can be said for sure”.
The family is alleged to have been killed by Tak’s acquaintances, the financier Asif Sheikh and real-estate developer Afghan Khan along with accomplices. The motivations for the murders is said to be their greed for Laila’s property and that of the mother.
A complaint against Tak and others was lodged by Laila’s biological father Nadir Patel following which police in Mumbai registered the case. According to the complaint, Laila, along with her family members, including her mother Shelina, elder sister Hazmina, twin siblings Zara and Imran, and a relative, were allegedly kidnapped by Tak and Asif Sheikh from their flat in suburban Oshiwara. A Mumbai police team is in Kashmir to take custody of Tak.
However, what is not clear from Tak’s shocking disclosure is whether there is any terror link to these murders. Both the accused and victims in this sordid affair were sought for their role in Delhi High Court blast. Laila, a Pakistan born actress, is best known for her role opposite Rajesh Khanna in the 2008 movie Wafa: A Deadly Love Story.
Riyaz Wani is a Special Correspondent with Tehelka.
riyaz@tehelka.com |
