Lethpora CRPF Group Centre attack: NIA files charge sheet against four accused
Srinagar:The National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Thursday said that it has filed charge sheet against four accused persons involved in the attack on CRPF camp at Lethpora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama on December 30, 2017, and stated that two slain militants of JeM had done recee of the site before the attack, said the NIA spokesman in a statement.
An NIA spokesman said, “Today (01.08.2019), NIA filed Charge-sheet in RC 10/2018/NIA/DLI which relates to a fidayeen attack by a group of three (03) heavily armed militants belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on CRPF Group Centre at Lethpora, J&K in the intervening night of 30/31st December 2017.”
“In this attack, five (05) CRPF personnel were killed and three (03) others got injured. During the ensuing operation, all the three (03) militants were killed. Initially, a case under FIR number 150/2017 was registered at Awantipora Police station. Considering the gravity of the case, NIA took over the investigation of the case on 27.02.2018,” said NIA spokesman in a statement.
“The chargesheet has been filed in NIA Special Court, Jammu against four accused namely i) Fayaz Ahmad Magray resident of Lethpora, Awantipora, ii) Nisar Ahmad Tantray resident of Dar Ganaie Gund, Tral, Awantipora, iii) Syed Hilal Andrabi resident of Ratnipora, Pulwama and iv) Irshad Ahmad Reshi resident of Ratnipora, Pulwama,” he said.
“The sections invoked against the accused are: section 120B read with Sections 121, 121A, 122, 123, 302, 307, 325, 330, 436, 440, 457, 459 and 460 of the Ranbir Penal Code, Sections 07 and 25 of the Arms Act, Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosives Substances Act, Sections 18, 19, 20, 23 & 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and Section 04 of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Property (Prevention of Damage) Act, 1985,” he added.
“During the investigation, the identity of the three Fidayeen militants was established. The two local miliatnts among the attackers were identified as Fardeen Ahmad Khandey S/o Gulam Mohi-ud–din Khandey R/o Nazneenpora, Tral, Pulwama (J&K) and Manzoor Ahmad Baba S/o Ali Mohd. R/o Drubgam, Pulwama (J&K), while, the identity of the third Fidayeen militant was identified as Abdul Shakoor, a resident of Rawalakot Pakistan,” said the spokesman.
“Recce of the CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora was done by Noor Mohd Tantray along with other accused during the second week of December 2017. However, before the attack could be launched, Noor Mohd Tantray was killed in an encounter with security forces. Mufti Waqas, a Pakistani militant of JeM who took over as commander after Noor Mohammad, immediately started planning the execution of attack at CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora to retaliate against the killing of Noor Tantray. Accused Syed Hilal Andrabi, Irshad Ahmad Reshi, Fayaz Ahmad Magray, Nisar Ahmad Tantray, Mudasir Ahmad Khan and JeM commander Mufti Waqas (Pakistani) played a vital role in the conspiracy. Mufti Waqas and Mudasir Ahmad Khan were later killed in different encounters with security forces,” he said.
“Accused Fayaz Ahmad Magray was an active associate of slain militant Noor Mohammad Tantray and played an active role in planning and execution of this attack,” he added.
“After the attack, in the month of January 2018, the role of Mudasir Ahmad khan who was an OGW of JeM at that time came into knowledge of Police and a raid was conducted at his house. Fayaz Ahmad Magray immediately facilitated Mudasir Ahmed khan to join the JeM militant ranks as an active militant by arranging weapon through JeM commander Mufti Waqas. He also escorted him and helped him to cross the police check posts while escaping,” said NIA spokesman in a statement.
The spokesman said that accused Syed Hilal Andrabi and Irshad Ahmed Reshi facilitated the fidayeen attack by providing shelter, by extending logistic support and by transporting the fidayeens along with their arms and ammunition immediately before the attack.
“The fourth accused charge-sheeted namely Nisar Ahmad Tantray is the younger brother of slain JeM commander Noor Mohd Tantray and he was also part of the said conspiracy,” said the spokesman.
“Further investigation continues in respect of other accused and cross border linkages of the attack,” said NIA spokesman in a statement.
