NIA chargesheets 5 accused in 2023 Rajouri attack case

New Delhi, February 26

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 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.

The case relates to a heinous terror attack on civilians at Dhangri village in Rajouri district on January 1, 2023, followed by an IED blast the next day. Seven innocent people, including two children, were killed and several others severely injured in the attacks.

The three of chargesheeted individuals are LeT handlers, identified as Saifullah aka Sajid Jutt aka Ali aka Habibullah aka Numan aka Langda aka Noumi, Mohammad Qasim, and Abu Qatal aka Qatal Sindhi.

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 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, sources said.

Saifullah aka Sajid Jutt is currently a highly placed LeT commander, and was responsible for engineering the overall conspiracy from Pakistan, along with the other two. Mohammad 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.

The other two charge-sheeted accused are Nisar Ahmed, aka Haji Nisar, and Mushtaq Hussain, aka Chacha, both overground workers (OGWs) of the LeT and are residents of Mohra, Gursai, tehsil Mendhar, Poonch district.

The duo was arrested during the course of 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. They had also attempted to conceal evidence by destroying the mobile phone used for clandestine communication with the Pakistan-based LeT commanders, sources informed further.

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.

In the chargesheet filed on Monday, the two arrested adult 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 apprehended juvenile will be submitted to the Juvenile Justice Board, Rajouri, in due course, sources informed.

3 of them lashkar handlers

• Three of the chargesheeted individuals are LeT handlers, identified as Saifullah, Mohammad Qasim and Abu Qatal
• The other two charge-sheeted accused are Nisar Ahmed and Mushtaq Hussain, both overground workers of the LeT and are residents of Mohra, Gursai, Mendhar tehsil, Poonch district
• The case relates to a terror attack on civilians at Dhangri village in Rajouri on January 1, 2023, followed by an IED blast the next day