Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan, Jammu court issues second NBW in two months
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, India's most-wanted terrorist, is in Pakistan, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) told a Special Court in Jammu. The court subsequently issued a second non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him in two months in connection with a terror case involving the supply of weapons, funds and directions to terror groups operating in the Union Territory.
The court was hearing an application filed by the NIA seeking an NBW against Saeed, the founder of LeT and a designated terrorist, under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
In its application, the NIA described Saeed, a resident of Sargodha in Punjab, Pakistan, as an "absconding accused" in a case linked to the arrest of Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat during a check at Pandach on the outskirts of Srinagar earlier in the year.
A China-made grenade and 15 live rounds were recovered from Bhat, who is a resident of Batpora.
Bhat was booked at Zakoora Police Station under the UAPA, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act.
The investigation that followed led to the busting of a terror network and the arrest of several more terrorists associated with LeT and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), as well as two Pakistani nationals.
The NIA said Saeed's involvement came to light during the investigation. The arrested Pakistani terrorists were allegedly found to be associated with him, the agency said.
"Saeed is operating from Pakistan and providing weapons, money and directions to terrorists operating in the Kashmir Valley. The information is gathered that the said terrorist at present is in Pakistan and deliberately evading his arrest to escape the clutches of law," the NIA told the court.
After hearing the agency, Special Judge under the NIA Act Prem Sagar observed on September 8 that Saeed's involvement had surfaced during the investigation and that he was "allegedly involved in terrorism."
The court noted that Saeed was at large and that the investigating agency had been unable to secure his attendance "in the ordinary manner". It then issued a general non-bailable warrant against Saeed.
The latest warrant is the second non-bailable warrant issued against the LeT founder by the Special NIA Court in Jammu in two months.
On July 8, the court had issued the first NBW against Saeed in connection with last April's Pahalgam terror attack, which left 25 tourists and a local dead. (with inputs from PTI)
