The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday apprehended a juvenile in connection with the sheltering of terrorists responsible for the tragic killing of five civilians in Dhangri village of Rajouri in January the previous year.
According to a statement released to the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the juvenile was incidentally confined at the Observation Home in Jammu in another case registered at Police Station Gursai. "NIA took him into custody yesterday and presented him before the Juvenile Justice Board, Rajouri, for remand," the statement explained.
The incident in question occurred on January 1, 2023, resulting in the death of five individuals from the Hindu community and severe injuries to several others. Initially registered as FIR no. 01/2023 at PS Rajouri under sections 302/307/120-B/452/323 of IPC, sections 13/16/18 of UA (P) Act 1967, and sections 7/27 of the Arms Act, the case was later taken over and re-registered by the NIA on January 13.
The NIA's investigation revealed the involvement of the juvenile, along with two previously arrested individuals named Nisar Ahmed alias Haji Nisar and Mushtaq Hussain alias Chacha, in harboring the terrorists responsible for the heinous attack. Nisar Ahmed and Mushtaq Hussain were arrested on August 31, 2023, and are detained at Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal, Jammu.
The duo had allegedly provided logistical support to the terrorists for over two months, sheltering them in a hideout constructed on the instructions of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) handlers, namely Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt, Abu Qatal alias Qatal Sindhi, and Mohd. Qasim.
A dedicated team of NIA officials had extensively operated in the hilly terrain of Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi districts of Jammi & Kashmir during the investigation, scrutinizing numerous suspicious entities. The focus eventually narrowed down to the mentioned accused individuals who had offered logistical support to the terrorists. The investigation into the case is still ongoing.
