Pahalgam attack: Pak handler among 7 named in NIA chargesheet; LeT charged as entity first time

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) connected Monday filed a chargesheet successful the April 22 Pahalgam panic attack case, naming Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/The Resistance Front (former's front) among 7 accused. Sources said the LeT/TRF relation was established aft the root of the 2 messages enactment retired by TRF connected its integer media platform, archetypal claiming work soon aft the attack, and the denial thereafter, were traced to Pakistan.The six different accused listed successful the chargesheet, filed earlier the Special NIA tribunal successful Jammu, are apical Lashkar mastermind and Pakistani handler Sajid Jatt; neutralised Pakistani attackers Faisal Jatt, alias Suleman Shah, who hailed from Pakistan Punjab, Habeeb Tahir, alias Jibran, from Rawlakote successful Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Abu Hamza; and arrested Kashmiri locals Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothad, who had harboured the 3 Pakistani attackers days earlier the attack.The 1,597-page chargesheet records however NIA, done a meticulous probe spanning 8 months, traced the Pahalgam onslaught conspiracy to Pakistan, "which has been unabatedly sponsoring coercion against India". The links to Pakistan were confirmed by belongings and articles - IDs, M4 battle weapons and chocolates - recovered from the hideout of the 3 attackers who were killed successful Operation Mahadev successful July.

This is possibly the archetypal clip that LeT has been chargesheeted arsenic a ineligible entity; earlier chargesheets filed successful panic attacks launched by LeT, including the 26/11 Mumbai strikes, had named its apical leaders, including main Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Sajid Jatt. There, however, are precedents of an 'unlawful association' similar Popular Front of India (PFI) being chargesheeted by NIA."The chargesheet, which details Pakistan's conspiracy, roles of the accused and supporting grounds successful the case, has charged the banned LeT/TRF arsenic a ineligible entity for its relation successful planning, facilitating and executing the Pahalgam attack," NIA said.Pahalgam mastermind listed arsenic an idiosyncratic 'terrorist' nether UAPATOI had connected July 29 reported that Sajid Jatt, who leads TRF/LeT operations successful Kashmir, had masterminded the Pahalgam onslaught arsenic portion of a closely-guarded ISI-LeT conspiracy to transportation retired a high-impact onslaught successful Kashmir. Jatt was specifically instructed by ISI to lone deploy overseas terrorists for the gruesome targeted killings connected spiritual lines, portion ensuring minimal engagement of section Kashmiris.Sajid Jatt, alias Saifullah, calved connected Sept 3, 1982, and hailing from Kasur, Pakistan, is listed arsenic an idiosyncratic 'terrorist' nether the UAPA. He was the cardinal handler of terrorists who killed 5 Indian soldiers successful Bhata Dhurian, Poonch successful 2023. LeT/TRF arsenic good arsenic the 4 Pakistani terrorists person been charged nether provisions of BNS, Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and for waging warfare against India.

Parvaiz and Bashir had, pursuing their apprehension successful June, disclosed identities of the attackers, confirming that the second were Pakistani nationals affiliated to LeT. Sources had earlier told TOI that Parvaiz and Bashir were paid Rs 3,000 by the terrorists.