Key accused in CRPF camp attack arrested

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another accused in connection with the attack on the CRPF group centre in Lethpora in 2017. On Sunday, NIA sleuths arrested one Irshad Ahmad Reshi, a resident of Pulwama. With this, there are now five arrests in connection with the incident.

On December 12, 2017, the CRPF group centre was attacked by three terrorists belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Five CRPF personnel were martyred and three were grievously wounded, while all terrorists were killed in the attack. During its investigation, the NIA identified the three terrorists as Fardeen Ahmad Khandey, Manzoor Baba, and Pakistani national Abdul Shakoor.

Reshi is an over-ground worker (OGW) for the JeM. He was a close associate of JeM commander Noor Trali, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in December 2017. Investigations revealed that Reshi was a key conspirator who also provided logistical support in form of shelter and transport for the terrorists, and also conducted reconnaissance of the CRPF group centre for the terrorists.

He was arrested after two JeM terrorists who were arrested earlier, Nisar Ahmed Tantray and Syed Hilal Andrabi, revealed his role in the incident. Reshi will now be produced before the special NIA court in Jammu on Monday.