NIA chargesheet nails six in Naveed escape

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 3

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a chargesheet against six persons in the NIA special court here regarding the escape of Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Naveed Jatt from Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Srinagar, on February 6 this year.

Pertinently, two policemen were killed by militants during the incident.

The chargesheet has been filed against Jatt, alias Abu Hanjula, and five others — Muhammad Tika Khan, Shakeel Ahmad Bhat, Syed Tajmul Islam Kirmani, Muhammad Shafi Wani and Hilal Ahmed Rather, all residents of Kakapora tehsil of Pulwama district. These five persons helped Jatt escape from the hospital.

Giving details, an NIA spokesperson said during the investigation it was found that a criminal conspiracy was hatched by all accused to help Jatt escape from police custody.

“The accused conducted meetings in the Central Jail, Srinagar, on different dates before the incident and a made a comprehensive plan to manage Jatt’s escape. As per the plan, the accused conducted a recce of SMHS Hospital as well as routes to be followed before and after executing the plan. They also arranged vehicles and weapons,” the spokesperson said.

During the investigation, Tika Khan, Shakeel Bhat, Tajmul Islam and Shafi Wani were arrested whereas Jatt and Rather are still absconding. The NIA special court has issued non-bailable warrants against them, the spokesperson added.

He said after the completion of probe, the investigation agency filed the chargesheet against all six accused and further investigation was going on.

Accused conducted recce of hospital 

• An NIA spokesperson said during the investigation it was found that a criminal conspiracy was hatched by all accused to help Naveed Jatt escape from police custody 
• The accused conducted meetings in Central Jail, Srinagar, on different dates before the incident and a made a comprehensive plan to manage Jatt’s escape.
• As per the plan, the accused conducted a recce of SMHS Hospital as well as routes to be followed before and after executing the plan. They also arranged vehicles and weapons