Udhampur Blast Case: NIA Files Chargesheet Against Two LeT Operatives

SRINAGAR: National Investigation Agency on Thursday said that it has filed chargehseet against two members of Lashkar-i-Toiba oufit in connection with the Udhampur blast case.

NIA spokesman said that following through on investigations into the Udhampur IED blast cases by the LeT through their Pak based handlers, NIA filed a chargesheet against 2 LeT operatives today.

The spokesman further stated that Aslam Sheikh alias Adil and Mohd Amin Bhat alias Abu Khubaib alias Pinna have been charged for their efforts towards revival of militant activities in Jammu by carrying out recruitments from the pool of OGWs and surrendered militants and activating & motivating them to carry out militant acts.

NIA had taken over investigations into the case in 15th of November 2022 from Jammu & Kashmir Police, he said.

NIA Investigations revealed that Mohd Aslam Sheikh alias Adil was in touch with Mohd Amin Bhatalias Pinna, an ‘individual militant’ of the LeT listed by 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 Udhampur District of J&K, which had inflicted injuries to two persons, he said.

Mohd Amin Bhat 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 militant 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, he said.

Adil collected the explosives consignment delivered by Pinna’s associates from across the border in Kathua sector. Pinna used drones and dead drop method for this delivery. Pinna trained Adil in cyberspace on how to prime the IEDs. On 28th September, Adil planted 2 IEDs in two different buses, which were plying between Basnatgarh and Udhampur. One blast took place around midnight on 28th and the other in the early hours of 29th September, he said.

After his arrest, Adil made disclosures about 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, he said.

NIA unravelled all these facts and has filed a chargesheet on 28th against Mohd Aslam Sheikh and Mohd Amin Bhat 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, reads the statement.