NIA takes over Udhampur attack probe

A day after the arrest of a Pakistani terrorist from Udhampur, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a central probe agency created after the 2008 Mumbai attack, took over the probe on Thursday.

The NIA team led by Inspector General Sanjeev Kumar Singh reached Jammu on Wednesday itself and inspected the encounter site. The arrested LeT youth Mohd Naved is a hard nut to crack as he has been changing his statement very often, sources said.

Naved had undergone training in two different modules with Lashker-e-Toiba terror group and investigations suggested that the terrorist and his friend, who was killed by security forces, had specific instructions to target highways.

Naved and Mohd Nomeen targeted a BSF convoy in Udhampur on Jammu-Srinagar Highway. Two BSF personnel were killed and 14 others, including one in critical condition, were injured. Naved was captured by villagers when he tried to escape. A case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and various sections of Indian Penal Code has been registered against Naved, who is from Faislabad in Pakistan. Sources said the NIA team would examine the BSF personnel, who were part of the convoy, to reconstruct the scene. They will also speak to villagers who had nabbed the armed terrorist.

Sources said Naved told his interrogators that he had undergone two training modules of Lashker-e-Toiba terror group. The first module — Daur-e-Aam — deals with physical fitness and include mountaineering and using of small arms while in the second — Daura-e-Khas — they are trained in assault rifles and building of small explosives.

Sources said Pakistan’s ISI has intensified its attempts to push terrorists into India to carry out terror strike in hinterland like the attack in Gurdaspur in Punjab.