Nagrota terror attack: NIA chargesheet names JeM chief's brother, 13 others

The NIA on Tuesday named Pakistan-based UN-designated terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) deputy chief Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar, the brother of outlawed organisation's founder Maulana Masood Azhar, and 13 others in its chargesheet in 2016 Nagrota terror attack case.

The NIA chargesheet was filed in Jammu.

The National Investigation Agency revealed that four Kashmiri JeM members --Mohd Ashiq Baba, Syed Munir-Ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmad Dar and Ashraf Hamid Khandey -- had facilitated a group of three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists and transported them from International Border in Samba-Kathua sector to Hotel Jagdamba in Jammu.

The three were taken to Nagrota by the accused in their vehicles for the attack on the November 28, 2016 on Officers' Mess complex, 166 Medium Regiment of Indian Army in Nagrota Cantonment (near Jammu).

All the four Kashmiris were arrested by the NIA later.

The anti-terror agency said the three JeM terroists -- identified as Khalid, Numan and Aadil -- were highly trained and equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives. Seven Army personnel were killed and three suffered injuries in the attack carried out by the terrorists.

The terrorists were killed in retaliatory action by the security forces.

Investigation conducted by the NIA revealed that Maulana Abdul Rouf Asgar was the mastermind of the attack.

"Asgar worked out the plan of Fidyeen attack and provided training to the three slain JeM terrorists. He also directed Mufti Asgar, launch commander of JeM in Kashmir region, to provide training, funds, equipment and mobile and other logistics to local JeM member Mohd. Ashiq Baba," said the NIA in its chargesheet.

The NIA said that Ashiq Baba had visited Pakistan many times and met JeM terrorists Waseem (operational commander), Abu Talha (a commander in Jammu region) and Qari Zarar (launch commander for Jammu region).

He was taken for a meeting with Mufti Asgar at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, said the NIA.

"On reaching there, he was received by Abdullah and Tariq Mir, both JeM terrorists who are close associates of Mufti Asgar," the chargesheet said.

"During the meeting with top leadership of JeM commanders Mufti Asgar chalked out a detailed plan including the modus operandi to be adopted for infiltration of JeM terrorists and he asked Ashiq to activate local JeM network in Jammu and Kashmir for Jehadi cause."

Ashiq Baba was trained by JeM at Manshera in Pakistan and given money for arranging logistics along with a GPS-enabled Huawei mobile phone for communication with JeM leaders in Pakistan, the NIA said.

According to the NIA, it has collected evidence on the basis of disclosure of the accused, detailed social media analysis, digital evidence through requests under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and analysis of data extracted from the seized digital devices.

The agency said that further investigation is continuing.

--IANS

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