New Delhi: In a major breakthrough in the Pulwama case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested one accused who helped the suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar in planning the fidayeen attack on the convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) that killed 40 jawan on February 14 last year.
The arrested man has been identified as Shakir Bashir Magrey, an overground worker of Pak-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. As per NIA, 22-year-old Shakir Bashir Magrey owns a furniture shop in Kakapora area of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. He allegedly provided shelter and other logistical assistance to the suicide-bomber Adil Ahmad Dar.
According to NIA, Shakir Bashir Magrey was introduced to Adil Ahmad in mid-2018 by a Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Umar Farooq who recruited him as full time overground worker of JeM.
“During his initial interrogation, he has disclosed that on several occasions, he collected and delivered arms, ammunition, cash and explosive material to the JeM terrorists including those involved in Pulwama attack”, the NIA said in a statement.
The probe agency said that during his interrogation he further revealed that he had harboured Adil Ahmad Dar and Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Umar Farooq in his house from late 2018 till the attack in February 2019 and assisted them in the preparation of the IED.
As per NIA, Shakir Bashir Magrey shop is located near Lethpora bridge and as advised by Mohammad Umar, he started conducting reconnaissance of the movement of CRPF convoy on Jammu-Srinagar Highway in January 2019 and informed Mohammad Umar and Adil Ahmad Dar about it.
Further, he was also involved in modifying the Maruti Eeco car and fitting the IED in it in early February, 2019, it added.
During investigation of this attack, the make, model and number of the car used in the attack was quickly ascertained by NIA to be a Maruti Eeco car through forensic examination of the tiny remnants of the car was also corroborated by accused Shakir Bashir Magrey, the agency said.
“The explosives used in the attack were determined to be Ammonium Nitrate, Nitro-Glycerin and RDX through forensic investigation and probe also has also confirmed the identity of the suicide bomber to be Adil Ahmad Dar through DNA matching with that of his father”, the central terror probe agency said.
NIA further said that other key terrorists involved in the attack have been found to be Muddasir Ahmad Khan, a JeM’s Divisional Commander of South Kashmir was killed in an operation by security forces on March 11 last year while two Pakistani terrorists Muhammad Umar Farooq and IED expert Kamran were killed in an encounter with security forces on March 2, 2019.
The owner of the Maruti Eco car Sajjad Ahmad Bhat was killed on June 16 last year whereas Qari Yassir, JeM’s Commander for Kashmir was neutralized on January 25 this year.
“Shakir Bashir Magrey was produced before the NIA Special Court at Jammu and remanded to 15 days of NIA custody for his detailed interrogation”, the probing agency further said, adding that further investigation has been continued in this case. (UNI)