The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charges against three absconding Pakistan-based handlers of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, along with two others, in connection with the Rajouri attacks of January 2023. The case involves a terror attack on civilians at the village of Dhangri in Rajouri district on January 1, followed by an IED blast the next day, resulting in the deaths of seven innocent people, including two children, and severe injuries to several others.
The three charged LeT handlers are identified as Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt alias Ali alias Habibullah alias Numan alias Langda alias Noumi, Mohd Qasim, and Abu Qatal alias Qatal Sindhi. Abu Qatal and Sajit Jutt are Pakistani nationals, while Qasim had been exfiltrated to Pakistan around 2002 and joined LeT terrorist ranks there. Investigations revealed that these Pakistan-based accused orchestrated the recruitment and dispatch of LeT terrorists from Pakistan to target innocent civilians, particularly from the minority community in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as security personnel, under their directions.
Saifullah is currently a highly placed LeT Commander responsible for engineering the overall conspiracy from Pakistan. Mohd Qasim is described as 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.
The other two accused, Nisar Ahmed alias Haji Nisar and Mushtaq Hussain alias Chacha, are Overground workers (OGWs) of LeT and residents of Mohra, Gursai, Tehsil Mendhar, District Poonch. They were arrested during the course of NIA investigations. Nisar had received a consignment of arms, ammunition, and cash sent by the Pakistan-based handlers for the terrorists. Investigations revealed Nisar’s contact with Abu Qatal during the latter’s stay in India, maintaining contact even after Abu Qatal’s return to Pakistan.
The chargesheet includes charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The Final Report against the apprehended juvenile will be submitted to the Juvenile Justice Board, Rajouri, in due course, according to the NIA.