Pulwama blast accused dies of heart attack in Jammu hospital

A 32-year-old man chargesheeted in the deadly terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district five years ago has died of a heart attack in the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu.

He was among those who helped the terrorists behind the Pulwama attack, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed was had shocked the nation.

Bilal Ahmad Kuchey of Kakapora’s Hajibal village was among 19 people formally charged in the case. As per the chargesheet of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Kuchay had helped the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists by giving them safe haven and also providing them with mobile phones to connect with each other.

Kuchay was in custody after his arrest by NIA on July 5, 2020. According to officials Kuchay was hospitalised on September 17 after he fell sick at the Kishtwar district jail. He died of a heart attack late on Monday evening.

The accused and 18 others were chargesheeted in the case by the NIA on August 25, 2020. The other accused who provided logistic support to the terrorists include Shakir Bashir, Insha Jan and Peer Tariq Ahmad Shah.

The chargesheet was filed under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Foreigners Act and the J&K Public Property (Prevention of Damages) Act.

Six ultras involved in Pulwama attack have already been killed in separate encounters with security forces. JeM founder Masood Azhar who was also a conspirator in the attack is still at large.