The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken decisive action against the perpetrators of the January 2023 Rajouri attacks, unveiling a comprehensive chargesheet against five accused, including three fugitive handlers of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit based in Pakistan.
According to NIA sources, the case RC-01 & 02/2023/NIA/JMU revolves around a reprehensible terrorist onslaught on civilians in village Dhangri, District Rajouri, on 1st January 2023, followed by a devastating IED blast the ensuing day. The attacks resulted in the tragic loss of seven innocent lives, including two children, and inflicted severe injuries on several others.
Providing insight into the chargesheet, NIA sources identified the three LeT handlers as Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt alias Ali, Habibullah alias Numan alias Langda alias Noumi, Mohd Qasim, and Abu Qatal alias Qatal Sindhi. Notably, while Abu Qatal and Sajid Jutt are Pakistani nationals, Qasim had infiltrated into Pakistan around 2002 and subsequently joined LeT’s terrorist ranks.
“NIA investigations have uncovered a meticulously orchestrated scheme orchestrated by these handlers to recruit and dispatch LeT terrorists from Pakistan,” stated the sources. “Their primary targets were innocent civilians, particularly from the minority community in Jammu & Kashmir, as well as security personnel. The attacks were executed under the direct instructions of these Pakistan-based operatives.”
Elaborating further, the sources revealed that Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt currently holds a prominent position as a LeT Commander and was the mastermind behind the overarching conspiracy from Pakistan. Mohd Qasim serves as his right-hand man, while Abu Qatal had entered India in 2002-03 and operated in the Poonch-Rajouri region alongside other terrorists.
The chargesheet also implicates Nisar Ahmed alias Haji Nisar and Mushtaq Hussain alias Chacha, identified as Overground Workers (OGWs) of LeT and residents of Mohra, Gursai, Tehsil Mendhar, District Poonch. The duo was apprehended during NIA’s exhaustive investigations. “Nisar and Mushtaq provided crucial logistical support to the terrorists as directed by Abu Qatal,” disclosed the sources. “Alongside a juvenile accomplice, they facilitated the terrorists with food, shelter, and other necessities for approximately three months following the Dhangri attack. Additionally, they attempted to destroy evidence by disposing of the mobile phone used for communication with the Pakistan-based LeT handlers.”
The chargesheet, filed today, implicates the two arrested adult accused and the Pakistani-based handlers under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act) and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case against the apprehended juvenile will be presented to the Juvenile Justice Board, Rajouri, in due course, the sources added.
