Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 25: In a major breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency, today said that the owner of the car that was used in bombing of para-military CRPF convoy in Pulwama early this month has been identified but he has joined the suicide squad of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
The NIA in a statement, said it has “made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the terror attack on CRPF convoy that took place on February 14”.
The NIA, said that it has identified the vehicle used for car bombing. “Piecing together remnants of the vehicle used by the suicide bomber in the Pulwama terror attack on CRPF convoy, from the scene of incident, NIA investigators, with the support of forensic and automobile experts have been able to identify the vehicle used for the blast”, the statement said.
Owner of the car, Sajjad Bhat, had acquired it 10 days before it was used for car bombing. “A Maruti Ecco vehicle having Chassis number MA3ERLF1SOO183735 Engine G12BN164140 was sold to Mohammad Jaleel Ahmed Haqani a resident of Heaven Colony, Anantnag in the year 2011. It subsequently exchanged hands seven times and finally reached Sajjad Bhat son of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat resident of Bijbehara, district Anantnag who had acquired the vehicle on 4.2.2019”.
“Sajjad was a student of Siraj-ul-Uloom, Shopain. A raid was conducted by NIA team at his house with the help of J&K Police on 23rd February. However, Sajjad was found not present in his house and thereafter has been evading arrest since then. He has reportedly now joined JeM. A photograph to this effect has also appeared in social media where Sajjad is seen holding weapons”, read the statement.
A senior Police officer said that when they raided the Bhat’s house, he was not found there. “However, we detained his father Mohammad Maqbool Bhat. Today we saw his picture on social media being circulated which says he has joined suicide squad of the JeM”, he said.
Police has detained all the six previous owners of the car and father of Sajjad Bhat and are questioning them. “We also detained six persons in this connection who had purchased this car and sold it in last 9 years. We also arrested Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, father of Sajjad Bhat” he said.
The Jaish-e-Mohammad circulated the picture of Sajjad Bhat holding guns in his hands. It has been said that he has joined Fidayeen group of JeM. Adil who carried out car bombing this month was member of the same squad.
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