*NIA grills two terror associates of Mendhar in Kot Bhalwal jail*
*Were linked to terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack* *They facilitated accused of Dhangri, Mendhar terror strikes*
Jammu, May 3: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today quizzed two terror associates from Bhatta Durrian in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district, who have been lodged in Kot Bhalwal jail, for facilitating infiltration of terrorists involved in Dhangri and Bhatta Durrian terror attacks amid reports that at least two terrorists of the group could be involved in April 22 Pahalgam massacre.
Officials told the Excelsior that terror associates identified as Nissar Ahmed alias Haji and Mushtaq Hussain, both residents of Bhatta Durrian, Mendhar presently lodged in high-security Kot Bhalwal jail on outskirts of Jammu City under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), were quizzed by the NIA investigating Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians including 25 tourists and a local were killed.
Nissar and Mushtaq were arrested after several days of investigations into January 1, 2023 Dhangri terror attack in Rajouri district in which seven civilians were killed and April 20, 2023 Bhatta Durrian (Mendhar) in Poonch district attack in which five Army soldiers were martyred.
“It surfaced during investigations then that the Pakistani terrorists who executed Dhangri and Bhatta Durrian terror attacks had infiltrated from the LoC in Poonch sector and Nissar and Mushtaq had facilitated their intrusions into this side. They also arranged shelter, food and other essentials for the terrorists,” the sources said.
While one or two terrorists of the group are believed to have been killed by security forces, two to three are still surviving and their involvement is suspected in Pahalgam carnage on April 22.
Sources said the NIA tried to extract more information about Pakistani terrorists during questioning of Nissar and Mushtaq about the terrorists including their possible hideouts at different places in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir to neutralize them.
“The terror associates could be taken on remand from the court if their further questioning is required by the NIA,” they added.
As per the sources, Abu Qatal, one of the top commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operating from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), had handled Nissar and Mushtaq and directed them to facilitate infiltration of Pakistani terrorists from LoC in Poonch sector, arrange safe accommodations for them besides food and then help them in carrying out terror attacks.
Nissar and Mushtaq had taken Pakistani terrorists to their hideouts from the LoC and helped them move from one place to another till both of them were identified and arrested, the sources said, adding both of them could give important tips about the Pakistani terrorists who could also be involved in April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in South Kashmir.
Terrorists had struck at Dhangri in Rajouri district on January 1, 2023 killing seven civilians and at Bhatta Durrian on April 20, 2023 in which five soldiers were martyred.
One of the reports earlier had claimed that Abu Qatal, the mastermind of Dhangri and other terror attacks in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in PoJK.–(Daily Excelsior)
