SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday charged five individuals, including three fugitive Pakistan-based handlers of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, in the Rajouri attacks case of January 2023.
In a statement, a spokesperson said, “The case RC-01 & 02/2023/NIA/JMU pertains to a heinous terror attack on civilians at village Dhangri on January 01, 2023, followed by an IED blast the next day. Seven innocent people, including two children, were killed and several others severely injured in the attacks.”
“Three of the charged individuals are LeT handlers, identified as Saifullah @ Sajid Jutt @ Ali @ Habibullah @ Numan @ Langda @ Noumi, Mohd Qasim, and Abu Qatal @ Qatal Sindhi. While Abu Qatal and Sajit Jutt are Pakistani nationals, Qasim had exfiltrated to Pakistan around 2002 and joined the LeT terrorist ranks there,” it reads.
The statement reveals that, as per investigations, the trio coordinated the recruitment and deployment of LeT militants from Pakistan to target innocent civilians, especially from the minority community in Jammu Kashmir, along with security personnel. These Pakistan-based handlers directed the attacks.
It further states that Saifullah is currently a highly placed LeT commander, responsible for engineering the overall conspiracy from Pakistan, along with the other two. “Mohd Qasim is presently the right hand of highly placed LeT Commanders. Abu Qatal came to India in 2002-03 and was active in the Poonch-Rajouri range, along with other terrorists.”
“The other two charged accused are Nisar Ahmed @ Haji Nisar and Mushtaq Hussain @ Chacha, both Overground workers (OGWs) of the LeT and residents of Mohra, Gursai, Tehsil Mendhar, District Poonch. The duo was arrested during the NIA investigations,” it adds.
The statement further reads, “It was discovered during investigations that they provided logistical support to the terrorists on Abu Qatal’s directions. Along with a juvenile, who was apprehended for aiding and abetting the perpetrators, they provided food, shelter, and other types of logistics support to the terrorists for approximately three months following the attack in Dhangri. They also attempted to conceal evidence by destroying the mobile phone used for clandestine communication with the Pakistan-based LeT commanders.”
The statement added that Nisar had received a consignment of arms, ammunition, and cash sent by the Pakistan-based handlers for the terrorists. “Investigations revealed that Nisar had come in contact with Abu Qatal during the latter’s stay in India. He remained in touch with Abu Qatal even after the latter’s return to Pakistan.”
It further stated that the two arrested adult accused and the Pak-based handlers have been charged under UA(P) Act and various sections of IPC. “The final report against the apprehended juvenile will be submitted to the Juvenile Justice Board Rajouri in due course.”—(KNO)
