Pulwama attack mastermind's associate sent to NIA custody

A Delhi court on Friday sent Sajjad Khan, an alleged associate of Pulwama terror attack mastermind Mudassir Ahmed Khan, to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody till March 29.

Following a tip-off, Sajjad was arrested by the Delhi Police on Thursday night from an area near the Red Fort where he was allegedly pretending to be a shawl trader.

During in-chamber proceedings, Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Syal allowed NIA to quiz him in the case.

The NIA questioned Sajjad inside the court for half-an-hour and thereafter requested the court to grant his custodial interrogation.

The NIA had requested for 10 days remand of Sajjad to unearth the deep-rooted conspiracy. Sajjad's defence counsel MS Khan, however, opposed it. The court gave seven days remand, till March 29.

Sajjad was presented before the court where Delhi Police handed over his custody to the NIA.

The accused is believed to be a close associate of Pulwama terror attack mastermind Mudassir Ahmed Khan who was gunned down by the security forces in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir on March 11. Huge quantities of ammunition and automatic weapons were found during the encounter.

Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14 after a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into their bus, which was a part of the convoy.