CRPF camp attack: Fifth accused held

LETHPORA NIA to seek custody for probe in attack on force’s centre in 2017

NEWDELHI/SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested an alleged Jaishe-mohammed (JEM) “overground worker” for his suspected involvement in a December 2017 attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Five CRPF men and three JEM militants were killed in the attack.

NIA spokesman Alok Mittal said Irshad Ahmad Reshi was picked up from Pulwama following the interrogation of Nisar Ahmed Tantray and Syed Hilal Andrabi, who are among the other four held in connection with the attack.tantray was extradited to India from the United Arab Emirates two weeks back. Mittal called Reshi a close associate of slain JEM commander, Noor Tantray alias Noor Trali. Nisar Tantray is the younger brother of Trali.

NIA said Trali was instrumental in reviving the JEM in the Valley. He was killed in a firefight with security forces in December 2017. The spokesman said the attack on the CRPF camp was carried

FIVE CRPF MEN, THREE JEM MILITANTS WERE KILLED IN THE ATTACK

out to avenge Trali’s killing.

He called Reshi “a key conspirator”, who provided logistic support by sheltering and transporting terrorists and conducted reconnaissance of the CRPF camp before the attack.

The NIA said Reshi will be produced before a special NIA court in Jammu on Monday with a request for his custody for further investigation.

Fayaz Ahmad Magrey and Manzoor Ahmed Bhat are the other suspects arrested in the case.

Three JEM militants attacked the CRPF camp on December 31, 2017.

HIDEOUT BUSTED

Security forces have busted a militant hideout in Pulwama district following a tip-off.

“A joint team of police and Army’s 55 RR [Rashtriya Rifles] recovered huge quantities of incriminating materials and other items from the hideout,” said a police spokesman on condition of anonymity.