[Udhampur IED Blast] NIA files chargesheet against 2 Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives
The two accused have been chargesheeted for their efforts towards revival of terrorist activities in Jammu by carrying out recruitments from the pool of over-ground workers (OGWs) and surrendered terrorists and activating and motivating them to carry out terrorist acts.
The National Investigation Agency on March 30 filed chargesheet against two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives in connection with the Udhampur IED blast cases.
NIA chargesheeted Mohd Aslam Sheikh @ Adil and Mohd Amin Bhat @ Abu Khubaib @ Pinna for their efforts towards revival of terrorist activities in Jammu by carrying out recruitments from the pool of over ground workers (OGWs) and surrendered terrorists and activating and motivating them to carry out terrorist acts.
The two accused have been charged under Sections 120B, 121A, 122, 307, and 407 of IPC, sections 3 &4 of the Explosives Substances Act, 1908, and sections 16, 18, 18B, 20, 23, 38 & 39 of the UA (P) Act, 1967.
The NIA Investigations revealed that Mohd Aslam Sheikh @ Adil was in touch with Mohd Amin Bhat @ Abu Khubaib @ Pinna, an ‘individual terrorist’ of the LeT listed by the Government of India, who was now operating from Pakistan. Pinna recruited Adil to carry out the two IED blasts on buses parked in the public areas of the Udhampur District of J&K, which had inflicted injuries to two persons.
“Mohd Amin Bhat @ Abu Khubaib @ Pinna was initially a resident of Doda district in J&K. In 1997, he joined the terrorist ranks of Hizb Ul Mujahideen and was involved in the execution of various terrorist acts in J&K. He escaped to Pakistan in 2009 and is presently an active LeT handler who is playing a vital role to revive and accelerate terrorist activities in the Jammu region of J&K”, the agency’s press release read.
The investigation also revealed that Adil collected the explosives consignment delivered to Pinna’s associates from across the border in the Kathua sector. Pinna used drones and the dead drop method for this delivery. Pinna trained Adil in cyberspace on how to prime the IEDs.
On September 28, 2022 Adil planted 2 IEDs in two different buses, which were plying between Basnatgarh and Udhampur. One blast took place around midnight on the 28th and the other in the early hours of the 29th of September.
“After his arrest, Adil made disclosures about the hoarding of explosives for future attacks. Two more IEDs, three Sticky bombs, three detonators, and two PTD timers were recovered from Adil’s residence. These were part of the consignment that was delivered from Pakistan”, the press release stated.
Statue: The Indian Penal Code; The Explosives Substances Act; The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act