National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday claimed that the vehicle used in Lethpora bombing was owned by a Bijbehara resident who had acquired the vehicle just ten days before the attack.
Forty Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed on February 14 when a suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammad group rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into their bus in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement, NIA claimed to have achieved a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the case.
“Piecing together remnants of the vehicle used by the suicide bomber in the Pulwama attack on CRPF convoy, from the scene of incident, NIA investigators, with the support of forensic and automobile experts have been able to identify the vehicle used for the blast,” said a spokesman, in the statement.
He said a Maruti Eeco vehicle bearing Chassis number MA3ERLF1SOO183735 Engine G12BN164140 was sold to Md Jaleel Ahmed Haqani a resident of Heaven colony, Anantnag in the year 2011.
“It subsequently exchanged hands seven times and finally reached Sajjad Bhat son of Md Maqbool Bhat resident of Bijbehara, District Anantnag who had acquired the vehicle on 4.2.2019,” said the spokesman.
He said Sajjad was a student of Siraj-ul-Uloom, Shopain. “A raid was conducted by NIA team at his house with the help of J&K Police on 23rd February. However, Sajjad was found not present in his house and thereafter has been evading arrest since then.
“He has reportedly now joined JeM. A photograph to this effect has also appeared in social media where Sajjad is seen holding weapons.”