Pulwama Suicide Attack Case: Special NIA Court to hold first hearing

The special NIA court in Jammu will on Tuesday hold the first hearing in the crucial Pulwama suicide attack case. On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber had rammed his car into a CRPF vehicle on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, killing 40 paramilitary soldiers. Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) had taken responsibility for the attack.

The National Investigation Agency, charged with probing the case, had last week submitted its chargesheet in the special court in Jammu.

During the first hearing on Tuesday, investigating officer SP Rakesh Balwal will record his statement before the court, for the court to issue a general warrant of arrest for the absconders. After the warrant issued, there will be a trial in absentia under section 299 of the criminal procedure code.

In the NIA chargesheet, 19 people have been named accused with six absconders.

The main absconders are four JeM terror commanders, including Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar, Rouf Asgar and Ammar Alvi alias Chacha alias Chota Masood and Mohammed Ismail. According to the NIA chargesheet, Masood Azhar, Rouf Asghar and Ammar Alvi were continuously giving directions and guidance to the Pakistani JeM terrorists who executed the Pulwama suicide attack on the Indian soil.

Mohammed Ismail alias Saifullah had recruited a Srinagar-based student, Waiz-Ul-Islam, to order 4 kgs of aluminium powder from his Amazon account. This aluminium powder was later used to make the improvised explosive device used in the car which slammed into the CRPF vehicle.

The other two absconders are two Kashmiri locals - Sameer Dar and Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo - both residents of Pulwama.

Sameer Dar was the one who helped suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar make the propaganda video used to lay claim on the attack. Since Adil Ahmed Dar was not able to speak fluently in the video, Sameer Dar lent his voice while the suicide bomber lip-synced.

Apart from the six abscondings, other accused include one suicide bomber, five others who have been killed in various encounters with security forces and seven accused who have been arrested.

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