New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Thursday attached properties of two “key Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives” who were allegedly involved in the 2015 terror attack on a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy in Udhampur.
Two personnel had died in the attack, while 13 others were injured.
The two accused, currently under trial, are Fayaz Ahmed Itoo and Khursheed Ahmed Bhat, “both members of the banned Pakistan-backed LeT”, an NIA officer said, adding that the properties had been seized under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA.
According to the officer, four immovable properties have been attached — “a single-storied house of Itoo in village Khudwani, Kulgam, and a double-storied house, along with two plots of land, belonging to Khursheed Ahmed Bhat in village Chursoo in Pulwama’s Awantipora”.
On 5 August 2015, a convoy of security forces was attacked by a group of terrorists in Army uniforms, on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. The terrorists attacked a BSF bus in the convoy at Narsu nullah near Samroli, and one of them attempted forced entry into the vehicle.
However, a CRPF jawan named Suresh Kumar of 137 Battalion, who was part of the convoy, opened fire.
One terrorist identified as Mohammad Naved, resident of Ghulam Muhammadabad in Pakistan, was arrested from the spot, while another, identified as Noman alias Nomi from Bahawalpur, was killed in retaliatory firing.
Two other terrorists, however, managed to flee.
During the investigation, it was found that the men had infiltrated into India from Pakistan through Tangnarg just 12 days before the attack, the NIA said in a statement.
Several arrests were made following the incident, including Itoo and Bhat. They are suspected to have helped the terrorists.
All the prime accused in the case have been charge-sheeted under sections of the Explosives Act, the UAPA and Arms Act, the NIA said in its statement.
LeT commander killed
The attachment comes days after LeT commander Hanzala Adnan, who allegedly orchestrated this attack from Pakistan, was reportedly shot by unknown gunmen in Karachi on the intervening night of 2 and 3 December.
According to an intelligence source, Adnan, who is said to have been highly active in Kashmir Valley between 2012 and 2016,
played a key role in training the operatives who had infiltrated into India for the attack.
Considered to be close to LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Adnan was reportedly shot at outside his house. He was taken to a Karachi hospital by the Pakistani Army, where he succumbed during treatment on 5 December.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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