NIA’s Pulwama chargesheet likely today, JeM chief figures among 20 accused
The National Investigation Agency is set to file a chargesheet in the Pulwama attack on Tuesday. At least 40 CRPF troops were killed in February last year, prompting India to launch airstrikes on terror bases in Balakote across the border.
Sources said Pakistan-based terror mastermind Masood Azhar (chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad), and his brother Rauf Asghar have been named as the key plotters of the Pulwama attack.
Sources said the NIA is likely to file a voluminous chargesheet in a court in Jammu on Tuesday. It would detail how the planning and execution of one of the deadliest terror attacks in Kashmir was masterminded from Pakistan.
A suicide bomber hit a security convoy with a car full of explosives in February last year, killing more than 40 CRPF soldiers.
The chargesheet is likely to name 20 accused, including JeM conspirators, terrorists who were killed in various operations and half-a-dozen others accused of providing logistical support.
Related News: NIA arrests father-daughter duo in connection with Pulwama attack
The document, say sources, includes call recordings and WhatsApp chats with photos of explosives, including RDX, being transported, which were found on the phone of Umar Farooq, a Pakistan-based Jaish commander killed by security forces soon after the attack.
Also forming a part of the chargesheet are Masood Azhar’s video and audio recordings lauding the Pulwama attack. Other digital imprints are likely to include a JeM Telegram group that had a post soon after the attack.
Azhar is wanted in India for several attacks including the 26/11 Mumbai terror.
Related News: Security forces avert replay of Pulwama attack, recover 40-45 kg IED
Key conspirators named in the charge-sheet are Adil Ahmed Dar (suicide bomber), Umer Farooq (JeM commander who assembled the bomb; he was killed in an encounter), Shakir Bashir Magrey (he allegedly drove the car used in the attack), Mohammed Iqbal Rather (facilitated transport; arrested in July), Bilal Ahmed Kuchey (procured high-end mobile phones for Jaish).
