New Delhi, Feb 26: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Monday chargesheeted five accused, including three absconding Pakistan-based handlers of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit in the Rajouri attacks case of January 2023.
A statement of NIA issued here said that the case RC-01 and 02/2023/NIA/JMU relates to a heinous terror attack on civilians in Dhangri, Rajouri on January 1, 2023, followed by an IED blast the next day.
Seven persons, including two children, were killed and several others severely injured in the attacks.
It said that three of the charge-sheeted individuals are LeT handlers identified as Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt, Ali, Habibullah, Numan, Langda, and Noumi, Muhammad Qasim, and Abu Qatal alias Qatal Sindhi.
The statement said that while Abu Qatal and Sajit Jutt are Pakistani nationals, Qasim had exfiltrated to Pakistan sometime around 2002 and had joined the LeT terrorist ranks there.
“As per investigations, the trio had orchestrated the recruitment and dispatch of LeT terrorists from Pakistan to target civilians, particularly from the minority community in J&K, as well as security personnel. The attacks were carried out under the directions of these Pakistan-based handlers,” the NIA statement said.
It said that Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt was currently a highly placed LeT commander, and was responsible for engineering the overall conspiracy from Pakistan, along with the other two.
The statement said that Qasim was presently the right hand of highly placed LeT commanders.
It said that Abu Qatal had come to India in 2002-03 and was active in the Poonch-Rajouri range along with other terrorists.
It said that the other two charge-sheeted accused were Nisar Ahmad alias Haji Nisar and Mushtaq Hussain alias Chacha, both Over Ground workers (OGWs) of the LeT and residents of Mohra, Gursai, Mendhar, Poonch.
The statement said that the duo was arrested during the investigations by the NIA.
“It was found during investigations 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,” the NIA statement said. “They had also attempted to conceal evidence by destroying the mobile phone used for clandestine communication with the Pakistan-based LeT commanders.”
It said that Nisar had also received 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 statement said.
It said that in the chargesheet filed on Monday, the two arrested accused and the Pakistani-based handlers had been charged under the 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,” the NIA statement said.