NIA chargesheets Masood Azhar in Pathankot terror attack

The NIA on Monday filed charges against Pakistan-based militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad's chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others for plotting and executing the January 2 terror attack at an air force base in Pathankot.

Others named in the chargesheet include, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan, the National Investigation Agency said in an official statement here.

The chargesheet submitted in a special court of the agency in Panchkula, Punjab, said that Red Corner Notice has been issued by the Interpol against Azhar, Asghar and Latif, while a Red Corner Notice against Kashif Jan was in process.

The submission also named four attackers - Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum - all residents of Pakistan.

"Prosecution against these attackers was recommended to be abated since they are dead," the statement said.

The JeM chief and others have been accused in the chargesheet of setting up terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistani part of Kashmir, to carry out terror attacks on India.

"During the training, these terrorists were made to undergo extensive motivational, physical, military and tactical training regimen, to radicalise them and to prepare them for Jihad," it said.

The terror attack on Pathankot Air force base camp on January 2 left seven soldiers dead after four militants managed to enter the camp.

--IANS

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