Kishtwar, Aug 9: It was after September 7, 2011 Delhi High Court blast case, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) has taken over any investigation of terror related incident in Jammu and Kashmir and in the August 5, 2015 terror attack on BSF convey in Udhampur, two security persons were killed and 11 others injured. Lashker militant Usman Khan of Faisalabad, Pakistan, was captured alive.
Though Pakistan so far is denying that the arrested Usman is a Pakistani citizen, but Indian agencies keeping an eye on terror related incidents say Usman is a big catch and can help the security agencies to track and eliminate the Lashker modules operational in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, beside will help them to understand the fresh modus operandi adopted by the infamous Pakistan intelligence ISI with regard to stoking of anti-India rant as well as their future plan to carry out terror related activities in India.
While talking to “Early Times”, sources said while Usman has spill beans during his interrogation right from his training by Lashker-e-Toiba in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and his entry and stay in Jammu and Kashmir and importantly role of son of Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Sayed, more revelations are yet to come from him. They said though he named over a dozen of his supporters in Kashmir, but many of them are yet to be arrested and added that NIA is looking forward for the arrest of Lal Chowk businessman who provided Rs 5 lakh to the LeT handlers to run terror network in Kashmir and to carry out the terror activities in the state. They said that as a part of its first leg of its investigation, NIA is focusing on the arrest of all those persons who from time to time provided logistic support to this Pakistani militant during his stay in Kashmir, added that the arrest of at least eight person is a major breakthrough for the NIA as they are the locals and can help in a better way to identified the LeT hideouts and OGW’s in Kashmir division. They said that both J&K police as well as NIA is working jointly towards breaking the backbone of LeT and other Pakistani militant outfit spreading the terror in Jammu and Kashmir.
The sources said that major security forces installations including Badamibagh cantonment in Kashmir is the main target of LeT and the preliminary investigation reveals that Usman Khan has stayed at a place close to police station Rajbagh and has even conducted a recee of many high profile areas including that of politician’s living in and around Church lane and Tourist Reception Center. The sources said that LeT also wants to blow up the power projects in Chenab region as well as in valley, but added that it required massive explosive consignment for targeting the power projects which is not available with them at this movement as a result of which LeT decided first to target security forces and pro Indian people to spread a reign of terror in Kashmir valley that has started limping back to normalcy with each passing day.
The sources said that during the course of the investigation, the name of Abu Akasha was also surfaced along with the militant involved in carrying out blast near Birma bridge in Udhampur District on 2-5-2011 targeting Commandant North Command Hospital Major General S D Pathania.
The sources identified the Pakistani militant involved in Udhampur blast on Major General S D Pathania as Ghulam Sarwar. Ghulam Sarwar name according to the sources first surfaced during the interrogation report of Abdul Majeed, a government employee, arrested in connection with the Udhampur blast and is a Lashker-e-Toiba operative wanted by NIA in Delhi High Court blast case as well. Plastic explosives and a remote-controlled detonator used in the Udhampur attack is said to be similar to those fitted in the suitcase bomb that had exploded outside the High Court on September 7, 2011. The two other Pakistani Haroon Bahi and Bilal Bahi are the two others wanted by NIA for their involvement in Delhi High Court blast. The sources said that Ghulam Sarwar is a serving Major in Pakistani army and works directly under the command and control of Pakistani prime military intelligence agency ISI, involved in several militancy related activities in India. The sources said that during preliminary investigation Ghulam Sarwar is said to be LeT operative, but the past leads suggested that he act as a mediator between various militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir who are directly under the control and command of ISI.
The sources said that Ghulam Sarwar who disguising himself as a local resident of Rajouri and even successfully manage to get driving license from Motor Vehicle Department and married to a local woman in Rajouri, but later deserted her after he was exposed by Abdul Majid. The another associate of Ghulam Sarwar Abu Akasha was last seen in Kishtwar and escaped the security cordon after brief encounter on 7-7-2012 in Chatroo area of Kishtwar District. Both Akasha and Sarwar remain active in belts of Chenab region and Per-Panjal and frequently crossed Pakistani and return back according to their need.
The sources said that NIA with the help of various security agencies had launched a manhunt to trace out the remaining Pakistani militants. They said that NIA will shift Usman Khan to Delhi so that scientific test including Narco Analysis and Lie Detector Test are conducted on him.
It is pertinent to mention that NIA is also investigating the links between Gurdaspur and Udhampur attack as both the attacks were carried out at the instance of Pakistan sponsored terror groups operated in POK and other parts of Pakistan.
Ravi Thappa
Board Member
JK Bureau
World Hindu News
Source: WHN Media Network