The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday chargesheeted five accused, including three absconding Pakistan-based handlers of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in the 2023 Rajouri attacks case.
Three of them are LeT handlers, identified as Saifullah, alias Sajid Jutt; Mohd Qasim; and Abu Qatal, alias Qatal Sindhi.
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While Abu Qatal and Sajit Jutt are Pakistani nationals, Qasim had moved to Pakistan sometime around 2002 and joined the LeT terrorist ranks there, the NIA said.
‘Minority community targeted’
The NIA is investigating the attacks in Dhangri village of Rajouri district that left seven people, including two children, dead in January last year.
“The trio had orchestrated the recruitment and despatch of LeT terrorists from Pakistan to target innocent civilians, particularly from the minority community in Jammu & Kashmir, as well as security personnel. The attacks were carried out under the directions of these Pakistan-based handlers,” the NIA said.
Saifullah, alias Sajid Jutt, is currently a highly placed LeT commander, and was 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 had come to India in 2002-03 and was active in the Poonch-Rajouri range, along with other terrorists, it added.
“The other two chargesheeted accused are Nisar Ahmed, alias Haji Nisar; and Mushtaq Hussain, alias Chacha. Both are overground workers (OGWs) of the LeT and residents of Poonch district. The duo was arrested during the course of the investigations by the NIA,” the spokesperson said.
During investigations, the NIA said, it was found that they had provided logistical support to the terrorists on the directions of Abu Qatal. “Along with a juvenile, who was also apprehended for aiding and abetting the perpetrators, they had provided food, shelter, and other types of logistics support to the terrorists for approximately three months following the attack in Dhangri. They had also attempted to conceal evidence by destroying the mobile phone used for clandestine communication with the Pakistan-based LeT commanders,” the NIA said.
‘Received arms’
The NIA said Nisar had also received the consignment of arms, ammunition and cash sent by the Pakistan-based handlers for the terrorists.
“Investigations have revealed that Nisar had come in contact with Abu Qatal during the latter’s stay in India. He had remained in touch with Abu Qatal even after the latter’s return to Pakistan,” the NIA said.
The two arrested accused and the Pakistan-based handlers have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of the IPC. The final report against the detained juvenile will be submitted to the Juvenile Justice Board, Rajouri, in due course, the NIA said.
