NIA conducts searches at 8 locations in J&K

Searches spread out in Anantnag, Baramulla, Srinagar, Doda and Kishtwar

JAMMU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Tuesday conducted searches at eight locations across Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the recovery of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing 5.5 kg, which was dropped using a drone in Jammu on June 27, same day as twin-drone based attack at Air Force Station in Satwari.

Both the drone-based incidents have already been linked to Lashkar-e-taiba leadership based in Pakistan and outfit’s newly created arm in valley – The Resistance Front (TRF) by the investigators.

The central anti-terror agency had received latest technical

inputs suggesting involvement of some persons in the IED case, which was recovered from one Nadeem-ul-haq, who was caught that day when he was moving towards the valley after picking the bomb.

NIA spokesperson said in a statement - “The conspiracy by LET was aimed at causing explosion in Jammu using the IED. NIA had re-registered the case on July 19. NIA had earlier arrested three persons in this case”. “Investigation revealed that Pakistan based handlers of proscribed terror outfit LET and their associates based in J&K are planning terrorist activities in J&K using the pseudo-acronym TRF (The Resistance Front) so as to maintain plausible deniability,” read the statement.

According to people familiar with both the incidents on June 27, it is suspected the drones flew in from a village across the border, which is about 14.5 kms from Jammu airport, with the technical help including understanding the global positioning system (GPS) for such operations is provided by the Pakistan army and the ISI. The target for the IED recovered in Bathindi, Jammu from Nadeem-ul-haq, is not known yet as he was directed to only pick it up.