National Investigation Agency
JAMMU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet before the NIA Special Court in Jammu against an arrested accused and three killed Pakistani terrorists in the Kishtwar terror attack case. The arrested accused was working as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) facilitating the movement of terrorists.
In a press release, NIA said on October 9 that it filed the 535-page chargesheet against arrested accused Maneer Ahmed, son of Mohammad Yousuf Koli, resident of Naidgam Chatroo, Inderwal, Kishtwar. Three killed terrorists, including Saifullah @ Saifullah Kashmiri @ Atiq Nazir @ Atiq Ur Rehman, have also been named in the FIR.
The chargesheet pertains to the terror attack on February 22 at Chatroo, Wani Mohalla, Passer Kote in Kishtwar (RC-03/2026/NIA/JMU). This had posed a tough challenge to the security forces at the peak of winter because of the harsh weather and inaccessibility of the area at that time.
The chargesheet details the conspiracy, the role of the three killed terrorists including Saifullah, a resident of Pakistan and commander of proscribed outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and of arrested accused Maneer Ahmed, along with supporting evidence. It charges Maneer Ahmed with voluntarily harbouring and concealing terrorists involved in attacks on security forces and civilians in hilly district Kishtwar under relevant provisions of UA(P) Act, 1967.
Saifullah was neutralised in an operation named Trashi I which had been jointly conducted by the Army, the police and was based on intelligence inputs from various sources, including Intelligence Bureau (IB).
The NIA has also invoked penal section against the accused terrorists for waging war against India and hatching conspiracy from across the border.
As per NIA, the attack involved three terrorists led by terror commander Saifullah, affiliated to Kashmir Tigers (Azrael Group), which acts under the proscribed outfit JeM. Retaliatory fire from security forces led to killing of all three. The group, which was active in upper reaches of Kishtwar, was found to have conducted several attacks that resulted in deaths of security forces personnel and locals.
Arrested accused Maneer Ahmed has been found to be involved in providing support to the group. He had provided logistical support and sustained the group for a long time, according to the NIA.
NIA’s investigation, spanning almost five months, has traced the conspiracy to Pakistan. Further investigation in the case is continuing, the agency said.
Saifullah’s killing was considered a major success as he had infiltrated from Pakistan five years ago. He was instrumental in recruiting youth in the area and had proven to be highly evasive over past encounters.
