Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 14: The National Investigating Agency (NIA) today arrested Irshad Ahmad Reshi of Ratnipora, Pulwama for his involvement in an attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Group Centre at Lethpora in December 2017.
Reshi is the fifth accused to have been arrested in the case during follow up investigation upon disclosures of accused Nisar Ahmed Tantray and Syed Hilal Andrabi who were arrested earlier.
The NIA in a statement said that arrested Irshad Ahmad was an active Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). “He was a close associate of slain militant and JeM commander Noor Mohammad Tantray alias Noor Trali”, the statement said.
“The attack on CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora was executed under a conspiracy to avenge the death of Noor Trali, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in Dec 2017,” the statement said.
It said that Irshad has been found to be a key conspirator who provided logistic support in form of sheltering and transport for the militants and conducting reconnaissance of the CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora before the attack.
Besides Irshad Ahmad, NIA has arrested four accused Fayaz Ahmad Magrey resident of Lethpora, Awantipora, Manzoor Ahmed Bhat resident of Pampore, Awantipora, Nisar Ahmed Tantray resident of Dar Ganai Gund, Tral, Awantipora and Syed Hilal Andrabi resident of Ratnipora, Pulwama so far.
“The attack on CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora was carried out in the intervening night of December 30 and 31, 2017 by three militants belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
During the investigation by NIA, the militants were identified as Fardeen Ahmad Khandey son of Ghulam Mohideen Khandey resident of Nazninpora, Tral, district Pulwama, Manzoor Baba son of Ali Mohammad Baba resident of Drubgam, district Pulwama, and a Pakistani Abdul Shakoor resident of Rawalakot area of Paksitan. All the three were killed in the encounter. Five CRPF personnel were martyred and three were injured in the attack.
NIA will produce Irshad before the Special NIA Court, Jammu tomorrow with a request for grant of custody for further investigation.
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