SRINAGAR: The National Investigating Agency today arrested Irshad Ahmad Reshi of Ratnipora, Pulwama for his involvement in an attack on CRPF group Centre at Lethpora in December 2017.
He is fifth “accused” to have been arrested in the case during follow up investigation upon disclosures of accused Nisar Ahmed Tantray and Syed Hilal Andrabi arrested earlier.
In a statement issued here to KNO, the NIA said that arrested Irshad Ahmad was an active OGW (Over Ground Worker) of proscribed militant organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad(JeM). “He was a close associate of slain militant and JeM Commander Noor Mohammad Tantray @ Noor Trali.
The attack on CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora was executed under a conspiracy to avenge the death of Noor Trali, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in Dec 2017,” the statement said.
It said that Irshad has been found to be a key conspirator who provided logistic support in form of sheltering and transport for the militants and conducting reconnaissance of the CRPF Group centre, Lethpora before the terrorist attack.
” Four accused namely Fayaz Ahmad Magrey r/o Lethpora, Awantipora, Manzoor Ahmed Bhat r/o Pampore, Awantipora, Nisar Ahmed Tantray r/o Dar Ganai Gund, Tral, Awantipora and Syed Hilal Andrabi r/o Ratnipora, Pulwama have been arrested earlier in the case”
” The attack on CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora was carried out in the intervening night of 30-31.12.2017 by three militants belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad(JeM).
During the investigation by NIA, the mikitants were identified as Fardeen Ahmad Khandey s/o Ghulam Mohideen Khandey r/o Nazninpora, Tral, Distt Pulwama, Manzoor Baba s/o Ali Mohd. Baba r/o Drubgam, Distt Pulwama, and a Pakistani namely Abdul Shakoor resident of Rawalakot area of PaK. All the three were killed in the encounter.
In this attack, 5 CRPF personnel were killed and three were grievously injured.”
Irshad will be produced before the Special NIA court, Jammu on 15.04.2019 with a request for grant of police custody for further investigation.”