NIA attaches LeT-linked property in Srinagar
SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached a residential property in Danihama village of Hazratbal in Srinagar belonging to Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Mama Gas in connection with a cross-border terrorism conspiracy involving Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Mir has been accused of acting at the behest of proscribed organisation LeT which had, at one time, wrecked havoc in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of the country. Incidentally, LeT cadres were involved in the Mumbai attack of November 26, 2008, in which more than 160 people were killed.
According to an NIA handout, the property, located at Khasra No. 315, was attached under Section 25 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, after obtaining prior approval from the Director General of the agency. Such attachments of properties is nowadays becoming more common and is a regular occurrence now all over the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir.
Most terror-related cases are now handled by NIA and the local police help them in intelligence gathering as also often identifying the trouble makers. The local police handled most terror related cases a decade ago and this stretch them thin and increased their workload substantially.
The NIA said its investigation had established a direct link between the property and the alleged conspiracy. It has claimed that the premises were used to shelter a Pakistani terrorist and conceal material connected with the terrorist network. It was used on a regular basis for harbouring the terrorist, besides arms and ammunition.
The case, registered as RC-02/2026/NIA/JMU, was initially filed as FIR No. 24/2026 at Zakoora police station in Srinagar on March 31, 2026, before being taken over by the NIA. This process of taking over terror related cases by the NIA from the local police is a result of better coordination between the two security agencies.
According to the agency, the investigation has uncovered an alleged network of local Over round Workers (OGWs) operating in coordination with Pakistan-based LeT handlers to facilitate infiltration, movement, shelter and logistical support for Pakistani terrorists. The network was allegedly intended to enable attacks on government establishments, security forces and civilians.
The NIA said a search of Mir’s residential premises on April 6, 2026, led to the detection of two suspected Pakistani terrorists, identified as Abu Hurera and Khubaib, who were allegedly associated with LeT. Besides these two Pakistani terrorists, three local associates had also been arrested.
An explosive-like substance, digital devices and other incriminating material were also recovered and seized during the search. The LeT module was dismantled during a series of operations launched on March 28 in Punjab, according to officials. Investigations had revealed that the network had a wide footprint, with activities spanning Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana.
Police sources said that Abu Hurera had infiltrated into India from Pakistan as early as 2010 and had been operating covertly for several years, indicating the depth and longevity of the network. Police also recovered forged Aadhaar cards and passports from the accused. They were using fake identities to evade detection and facilitate movement across states.
The arrest of Abu Hurira was particularly notable as it ended a 16-year-long manhunt for the operative who had been evading capture since infiltrating India. The agency reiterated that Mir had knowingly provided his residence as a shelter for the terrorists. The investigation is continuing to identify the wider network, including other OGWs, facilitators and individuals linked to Pakistan-based handlers, the NIA said.
