Jammu, Nov 22: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested another accused in the Pak-backed terrorism case involving the delivery of weapons through drones to militants active in Kashmir.
A team from the NIA Jammu Branch nabbed Zakir Hussain,22 of district Kathua, a statement said.
It read that he is the eighth accused to be arrested in the case registered by the NIA on July 30, 2022 after taking over the case from Kathua Police.
“One of the seven accused arrested earlier had died due to cardiac arrest in judicial custody while two Pakistan-based terror operatives are absconding. The seven arrested accused and the two absconders were earlier chargesheeted by NIA on January 12, 2023 under various sections,” said the statement.
According to NIA investigations, the accused were working on the directions of their Pakistani handler, identified as Sajjad Gul.
“The accused were involved in collecting, receiving and transporting the weapons dropped through drones to militants active in the Kashmir valley. The weapons were used to commit terrorist attacks in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” it further said.
“The local police had initially registered the case following the interception of a drone (Hexacopter) and seizure of several rounds of UBGL / Magnetic Bombs near the Dhalli area of PS Rajbagh in District Kathua,” it added.
The statement said that NIA is continuing with its investigations in the matter to unravel the bigger conspiracy of Pakistan-backed terrorist groups to carry out acts of terror and violence in the Kashmir valley and across India.
