Pahalgam attack: Jammu NIA court extends custody of two accused arrested for harbouring Pakistan terrorists

JAMMU: A special NIA court in Jammu has extended by 45 days the custodial remand of two accused arrested on charges of harbouring Pakistani terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Special judge Sandeep Gandotra on Thursday extended the remand of Pahalgam locals Bashir Ahmad Jothat and Parvaiz Ahmad , who hail from Baisaran and Batkote, respectively, beyond the stipulated 90-day period to allow the NIA more time to complete its probe into the massacre of 26 people, after public prosecutor Chandan Kumar Singh submitted that the investigation was at a crucial stage, and several witness statements yet to be recorded.

The investigating agency also stated that crucial evidence was still awaited, including analysis of mobile phone data linked to Pakistani numbers, forensic reports from CFSL Chandigarh and NFSU Gandhinagar, and DNA profiling of seized blankets, shawls and bedsheets to establish links with the slain terrorists. Arms and ammunition recovered in a July 28 encounter were also under forensic analysis, the prosecution said.

The two accused were arrested on June 22, and have been in judicial custody at Amphalla district jail in Jammu. Their 90-day remand was set to expire on Sept 19.

Opposing NIA’s application for extension of remand, defence counsel Ashwani Kumar countered that the accused had already been in custody for two months without conclusive evidence, and the agency had failed to complete investigation within the time granted.

Rejecting the defence plea, the court noted that the allegations were grave and directly linked to national security , and granted 45 days’ extension while directing the investigating officer to complete the probe expeditiously.

In another case, the same court dismissed the bail application of Tanveer Ahmed Wani , former chief of the LoC Traders Association, who is accused of channelising funds from Pakistan to strengthen the network of the Hizbul Mujahideen .

Wani, a resident of Pulwama, was arrested in Feb 2020. According to the NIA, he had strong links with Pakistan-based Hizbul leadership and personally handed over cash to terrorists. He also facilitated meetings and maintained an over-ground worker network to route money for terror activities.

After hearing the prosecution and the petitioner’s counsel, judge Gandotra noted that the accusations were serious and directly linked to national security. The gravity of charges under IPC and UAPA barred bail at this stage, he ruled.