NIA files chargesheet against 3 including Pakistani handler in J&K terror conspiracy case

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted three accused, including a Pakistani handler , in a terror conspiracy case involving seizure of arms and ammunition last year in the Poonch region of Jammu & Kashmir.

The accused -- Abdul Aziz, Munawar Hussain and Nazir Hussain -- have been charged under Section 61(2) of BNS, 2023, besides provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and Arms Act, 1959.

Nazir Hussain, currently active in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), is an operative of the banned terrorist outfit Jammu and Kashmir Gazanavi Force (JKGF). As per NIA investigations, he was involved in motivating vulnerable people of Kashmir to engage in acts of violence as part of the larger conspiracy hatched by various proscribed terrorist organisations and their associates to carry out terrorist acts and activities in the region.

Nazir would share inflammatory audio clips and video notes with local sympathizers of the terror outfits, inciting them to pursue jihad and wage a war against India. He also provided them with arms, ammunition and hand grenades etc to carry out the violent agenda of the terrorist organisations seeking to spread terror among the people.

The case was registered by NIA on the basis of an FIR filed by J&K police in October 2024 after a police party at Surankote, Poonch, apprehended Abdul Aziz and seized two grenades from his bag. His interrogation had led to the arrest of Munawar Hussain, from whom 1 pistol with 1 magazine and 9 rounds were seized.

Both the accused were in contact with handler Nazir @ Ali, subsequent investigations had revealed, exposing a conspiracy from across the border to destabilize Jammu & Kashmir through acts of violence and terror.