NIA files charge sheet against 7 terrorists

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against seven terrorists of the Tehreek-Ul-Mujahideen (TuM) who were party to a conspiracy by its Pakistan-based handlers and their terror associates based in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Kuwait to execute terrorist activities and wage war against the country.

An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror probe agency filed the charge sheet on Thursday before a special NIA court in Jammu against the seven accused persons -- Mohammad Mustafa Khan, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Ibrar, Mohammad Javid Khan, Sher Ali and Mohammad Rafiq Nai aka Sultan under several sections of IPC, UAPA, Arms Act, Explosive Substance Act and NDPS Act.

The case relates to the arrest of Mohammad Mustafa Khan by J&K Police on December 27 last year and also the recovery of six hand grenades along with other documents from his residence.

A case was registered at the Mendhar police station of Poonch District.

The NIA took over the probe on March 16 this year.

The official said that during the probe it was revealed that all seven charge-sheeted accused were part of a deep-rooted criminal conspiracy by Pakistan-based handlers of TuM and their terror associates based in Poonch and Kuwait to execute terrorist activities and wage war against the Indian State.

The official said that absconding accused Rafiq Nai and other handlers based in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) with assistance of Sher Ali based in Kuwait, Mohammad Mustafa, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Ibrar, Mohammad Javid and others on the Indian side of LoC in Poonch district smuggled arms, ammunition, explosives, narcotics, etc. into the Indian territory.

"They were taking advantage of geography, affinities of religion, culture and other ties cutting across both sides of the LoC," the official said.

The official said that during the course of investigation, a large cache of arms, ammunition, explosives, narcotics along with flag, posters and other incriminating material belonging to the terror outfit TuM, which was hidden at different places in Poonch was recovered.