Close to cracking Udhampur terror attack, claims NIA

National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jammu and Kashmir police have almost cracked the Udhampur terror attack case and detained more than six persons following the disclosures made by Pakistani Lashkar-e-Tioba militant Mohammad Naveed alias Usman during interrogation. Usman, who was brought to Srinagar on Friday night, has finally spilled the beans about his handlers, commanders and over ground workers and conspirators during the sustained interrogation. NIA has been able to join almost all the dots after they got Usman talking after initial hiccups.

Security agencies raided different hideouts and detained six persons in Pulwama and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir. They include two brothers, Javid Ahmed and Fayaz Ahmed, who work as carpenters at Awanpora-Charsoo Awantipora. A salesman and driver have also been picked up from the village. "My sons are not affiliated with any militant organisation and I fail to understand why they have been arrested," said Muhammad Shaban Wani, father of Javid and Fayaz.

Security agencies also raided the house of a welder Fayaz Ahmad in Khudwani village of Kulgam district but his house was locked. Fayaz is believed to have provided shelter to Usman in his house for a few days before the latter left on Udhampur mission. "All the detained will be paraded before Usman for identification. Once their identity is established we will initiate further proceedings," said a security official.

An unknown businessman is under scanner after Usman told the interrogators that Abu Dujana, the second-in-command of LeT, who deals with logistics and finances, halted his vehicle near a busy junction en route to Khrew to receive Rs 5 lakh in cash. "We have been able to join the dots. Interrogation of Usman has revealed so many things and we are trying to nab those who provided logistics and shelter. Their interrogation is key to the case because we will be able to lay bare the whole conspiracy," said a security official.

Focus has now shifted on Abu Qasim, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief for central and South Kashmir, who has emerged as mastermind of the Udhampur terror attack. Qasim, a dreaded Pakistani militant commander who has been active for many years has managed to escape from many encounters, had seen off Usman and Noman alias Momin for the attack site at Khudwani village.

In fact, officials said, Qasim had given them the brief how, where and when to launch the attack. He had told the duo to wait for 30 minutes before launching the attack. "This was precisely to give ample time for the truck to pass off and escape the glare of the security agencies," said an official.