Pulwama attack: Could not deny entry to armed militants, say harbourers’ kin

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 5

Shock, anger and disbelief have gripped the Shah family after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a father-daughter duo for harbouring and facilitating the Pulwama suicide bomber, Adil Dar, and his Pakistan handler, Mohammad Umar Farooq.

More than 40 CRPF personnel were killed and many others were injured when Dar rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy on February 14 last year. In retaliation, the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control and bombed terror camps in Balakote on February 27.

Tariq Ahmed Shah, 50, and his daughter, Insha Jan, 23, were arrested on Tuesday after investigations revealed that they were acting as conduits of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and their house was used for recording Dar’s video before he rammed his Eeco car into the CRPF convoy.

“Militants were coming to our home one and a half years ago. But we couldn’t say no to them as they were armed,” said Tariq’s wife Naseema.

Naseema said militants had visited their house twice, but she had requested them to leave.

“When they (militants) came the first time, I told them that we don’t have space. My husband even fled the house that night. One of the militants told me that they will stay only for the night,” said Naseema.

“When they came for the second time, I categorically told them to leave the house. I even warned them I will go to a nearby camp to inform the forces. The militants threatened to kill us. They even took pictures of my daughter (Insha) and threatened to upload them on social media. Tell me what should I have done?” she asked.

Insha is the youngest of the three siblings, who dropped out after Class IX. Her father, Tariq, is a truck driver.

An NIA spokesman on Tuesday said the accused, Tariq Shah, had disclosed that his house at Hakripora, Pulwama, was used by Adil Dar, Pakistani militant Mohammad Umar Farooq, who assembled the IED, Kamran, another Pakistani militant, Sameer Ahmed Dar and Mohammad Ismail, alias Ibrahim, alias Adnan, a Pakistani militant.

“His house was also used by the terrorists for preparing and recording the video of fidayeen Adil Ahmad Dar, which was released by the Jaish-e-Mohammed soon after the Pulwama attack,” the spokesman said.

Insha Jan, according to the NIA spokesman, facilitated the militants at their home and provided them food and other logistics during their stay on more than 15 occasions for two to four days each time.

“The initial interrogation has revealed that Insha Jan was in constant touch with Mohammad Umar Farooq, Pakistani IED maker, and was in communication with him over the telephone and other social media applications,” he said.

The arrest of the father-daughter duo is the second major breakthrough in the Pulwama attack in the last one week.

On Friday, the NIA arrested a key overground worker Shakir Bashir Magray, who had provided shelter and logistic support to the Jaish suicide bomber, Adil Dar.

Second major breakthrough

• The arrest of the father-daughter duo is the second major breakthrough in the Pulwama attack in the last one week
• On Friday, the NIA arrested a key overground worker, Shakir Bashir Magray, who had provided shelter and logistic support to the Jaish suicide bomber, Adil Dar