Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 30: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today conducted raids on the premises of several suspects in Poonch district in connection with a Lashkar-e-Toiba attack that killed seven civilians in the Dhangri village of Rajouri district earlier this year.
The raids were conducted at five locations across village Gursai in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch on the disclosure of two arrested accused, the officials said.
The agency arrested Nisar Ahmad alias Haji Nisar and Mushtaq Hussain on August 31. They are currently lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal, Jammu.
Five people were killed when terrorists opened fire on civilians in the Dhangri village on January 1. Two civilians were killed the following day when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) left behind by the terrorists exploded.
A case under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act was initially registered at Rajouri police station. The NIA took over the case on January 13 and is carrying out further investigations.
The officials said NIA teams conducted extensive searches at the locations, which they described as residential premises of Over Ground Workers linked with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Toiba .
Several digital devices and documents containing incriminating data and content have been seized and those are being scrutinised for unravelling the conspiracy.
Investigations so far have revealed that both the arrested accused had harboured the terrorists who had carried out the attack.
“They provided logistics support to the terrorists for more than two months and sheltered them in a hideout that they had built,” the officials said.
“The duo, as per the investigations, had been operating on the directions of Pakistan-based LeT handlers Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt, Abu Qatal alias Qatal Sindhi and Mohd Qasim,” they added.
As per the sources, the agency is investigating whether there is any link between Dhangri attack in Rajouri on January 1, Bhatta Durrian, Mendhar in Poonch district on April 20 and Kandi forests in Rajouri on May 5 this year.
All these three terror attacks took place during almost first four months of this year. While seven civilians were killed by the militants at Dhangri, five Army soldiers each lost their lives in Bhatta Durrian and Kandi attacks.
Nissar Ahmed and Mushtaq Hussain had earlier revealed that they sheltered two Pakistani terrorists for nearly two months and investigating agencies believed that these terrorists along with others might be involved in at least two of the three terror attacks.
Army and police have killed over 25 terrorists in Rajouri and Poonch districts this year including on the Line of Control (LoC) as well as hinterland.
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