Early Times Report
jammu, Aug 27: Special Judge, NIA, Y P Kotwal today granted 15 days judicial remand of Khursheed Ahmed Bhat alias Surya, who had allegedly taken captured LeT terrorist Naved and his accomplice to Jammu in his truck, and sent him to Kot-Bhalwal jail with the direction that he would be produced before the competent court on the expiry of remand period. Khursheed, who was today produced in the court by NIA, was arrested after being identified by Naved, a Pakistani militant, who was captured by two youth while trying to escape after the terror strike on a BSF convoy on August 5 last. In retaliatory action, his accomplice was shot dead by the BSF men. A resident of Faisalabad in Pakistan, Naved was in Srinagar since August 19 and NIA conducted Test Identification Parade of people detained by local police in connection with the attack. The driver, said to be an overground operative of the banned LeT, is a resident of Awantipura, Srinagar. NIA has also announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for capture of Abu Qasim, a Pakistani national hailing from Bhawalpur and commander of LeT's South Kashmir operations. He is accused of arranging logistics including transportation, accommodation and food for Naved and three other LeT operatives who infiltrated into the Valley from Gulmarg sector in June this year. NIA sources said Khursheed, a history-sheeter, had taken Naved and his accomplice Mohammed Noman alias Momin to Jammu on July 20 on a reconnaissance mission during which the timings of convoys of BSF and Army were marked. The militants initially wanted to attack either of the convoys then and there but decided against it at the last minute and were ferried back to the Valley, officials said. Khursheed (35) has already served a prison term of two-and-a-half years for alleged smuggling of drugs and cases are registered against him for involvement in stone-pelting incidents in 2010 and 2011. (JNF) |