NIA files chargesheet against three accused in Kulgam terror recruitment case

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2

The anti-terror probe agency NIA on Friday said it had filed a chargesheet against three accused persons in a special court, Jammu, under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Ranbir Penal Code for their alleged involvement recruiting terrorists for Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in Kulgam district of Jammu & Kashmir.

NIA officials said accused Muneeb Hameed Bhat, Junaid Ahmad Mattoo and Umer Rashid Wani, all residents of Kulgam district, had been charged for their subversive activities as members of the LeT in Kulgam district.

Mattoo and Wani have already been killed in separate encounters in 2017 and 2018 respectively, they added

“The accused were found trying to motivate local youth to join Lashkar-e-Toiba and organising their travel to Pakistan for terrorist training on the basis of valid travel documents on the recommendation of separatist leaders,” said a senior NIA official.

The officials said, the case “arose out of an FIR dated November 9, 2017 registered at Kulgam police station, which the NIA took over on September 25, 2018 and re-registered it”.

A senior official quoting the charge sheet said, “Investigation by the NIA established that LeT terrorist Junaid Ahmad Mattoo motivated accused Muneeb Hameed Bhat to join LeT and go to Pakistan for terrorist training.  Another LeT terrorist Umer Rashid Wani gave him funds to meet the expenses of his Pakistan visit.”

In July-August 2017, accused Muneeb Hameed Bhat visited Pakistan on valid travel documents for terrorist training with the assistance of separatist leaders and he was imparted weapons training and also trained on using secret social media chat platforms, said the official.

“After returning from Pakistan, Bhat remained constantly in touch with LeT handlers in Pakistan and active militants of the Kulgam area on secret messaging platforms for carrying out subversive and terrorist activities in Kashmir Valley.

“He was working as a sleeper cell of LeT and further intended to join the militant ranks in banned terrorist organisation LeT,” said the official.

“It also established that during 2016 to 2018, many Kashmiri youth were sent by separatist leaders to Pakistan on valid travel documents for getting terrorist training with active assistance of the commanders of militant groups.

“These youth got terrorist training in the terrorist camps of Pakistan for periods ranging from 5 to 15 days. After returning, they were initially used as sleeper cells and subsequently recruited for active militancy,” said the official.

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