JAMMU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Monday secured custody of five arrested Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, including two Pakistani nationals, after taking over the investigation into the recently unearthed interstate terror module.
The accused were produced before the Special NIA Court, Jammu, presided over by Judge Prem Sagar, after the agency formally took over the case for further investigation.
The court granted two-day NIA remand of Pakistani nationals Abdullah alias Abu Hureira and Usman alias Khubaib, while three Srinagar residents Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat, Adil Rashid and Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Mama were sent to 15-day NIA custody. Earlier, on April 7, Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with central agencies, had claimed a major breakthrough in its counter-terror campaign by arresting the five LeT operatives. Among them, Abdullah alias Abu Hureira had reportedly been on the run for nearly 16 years and had allegedly managed to establish bases outside Jammu and Kashmir.
NIA said the investigation has revealed a deep-rooted LeT network allegedly involved in providing logistics, shelter and financial support to terrorists across different states.
After securing remand from the court, the NIA is expected to question the accused to trace the wider network, financial channels and possible handlers behind the terror module.
