Terror conspiracy: NIA files chargesheet against Pakistani handler, 2 others

JAMMU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against three accused — a Pakistani handler and two others — in a terror conspiracy involving the seizure of arms and ammunition in J&K’s Poonch district, an official said Tuesday.

“The accused — identified as Abdul Aziz, Munawar Hussain, and Nazir Hussain alias Nazir Ahmed alias Ali Khan alias Nazir alias Ali alias Naziru alias Shaheen — were charged for criminal conspiracy under BNS Section 61(2); under provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) that deal with raising funds for terror and attempting a terror act among others; as well as under Arms Act,” an NIA spokesperson said.

“Nazir, presently active in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, is an operative of the proscribed outfit Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force. As per NIA investigations, he was involved in radicalising Kashmiri youth to engage in acts of violence as part of a larger terror conspiracy by several banned terror outfits and their associates to execute terror attacks in the region,” the spokesperson said.

“Nazir would share inflammatory audio clips and video notes with local sympathisers of terror outfits, inciting them to pursue jihad and wage war against India. As per chargesheet, he also provided them with arms, ammunition and hand grenades to carry out the violent agenda of terror outfits,” the spokesperson added.

NIA had registered the case in Oct 2024 based on an FIR registered by police, after a police party at Poonch’s Surankote apprehended Abdul Aziz and seized two grenades from his bag. His interrogation led to the arrest of Munawar Hussain, from whom a pistol with one magazine and 9 rounds were seized.

“Both accused were in contact with handler Nazir. Investigations revealed a conspiracy from across the border to destabilise J&K through acts of violence and terror,” the agency said in an official statement. Further questioning revealed that the duo had received four consignments of arms and ammunition and Rs 1.5 lakh from their handlers across the border.

Police said Aziz was involved in several grenade attack cases, including the one at the Shiv temple in Surankote on Nov 15, 2023 and at Gurdwara Mahant Sahib in Poonch on March 26, 2024. Hussain had lobbed a grenade near district hospital quarters on July 18, 2024.

“The duo had also pasted anti-national posters at different locations in Surankote, including government high schools in Hari, Dhundak, Sanai, Eidgah-Hari and other adjoining areas. These posters were printed at Hussain’s house and pasted in Aug 2023 on the directions of their handler to create fear among the public,” J&K Police had stated following their arrest.