Pulwama Attack: NIA arrests Jaish OGW for sheltering bomber

SRINAGAR — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough in the Lethpora Pulwama suicide attack by arresting a person Shakir Bashir Magrey, an Over Ground Worker (OGW), who according to the agency provided logistical assistance to the suicide bomber Adil Dar of Jaish-e-Muhammad.

Shakir Bashir Magrey, OGW of JeM, is aged 22 years and is the son of Bashir Ahmed Magrey, a resident of Hajibal, Kakapora, Pulwama.

“A furniture shop owner, Shakir Bashir Magrey provided shelter and other logistical assistance to the suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar. He was introduced to Adil Ahmad Dar in mid-2018 by a Pakistani militant Mohammad Umar Farooq and he became a full-time OGW of JeM,” the NIA statement said.

It said that during his initial interrogation, he disclosed that on several occasions, he collected and delivered arms, ammunition, cash and explosive material to the JeM militants including those involved in Pulwama attack.

“​Accused Shakir Bashir Magrey has further revealed that he had harboured Adil Ahmad Dar and Pakistani militant Mohammad Umar Farooq in his house from late 2018 till the attack in February 2019, and assisted them in the preparation of the IED,” the statement said.

The statement added, “His shop is located near Lethpora bridge, and as advised by Mohammad Umar, he started conducting reconnaissance of the movement of CRPF convoy on Jammu-Srinagar Highway in January 2019, and informed Mohammad Umar and Adil Ahmad Dar about it.”

The NIA statement said that further, he was also involved in modifying the Maruti Eeco car and fitting the IED in it in early February 2019.

“During the investigation, the make, model and number of the car used in the attack were quickly ascertained by NIA to be a Maruti Eeco car through forensic examination of the tiny remnants of the car, which were seized from the spot during extended searches. This has been corroborated by accused Shakir Bashir Magrey,” the statement said.

“The explosives used in the attack were determined to be Ammonium Nitrate, Nitro-Glycerin and RDX through forensic investigation,” the statement added.

“Investigation has also confirmed the identity of the suicide bomber to be Adil Ahmad Dar through DNA matching with that of his father,” the NIA statement said.

It added, “Other key militants involved in the attack have been found to be Muddasir Ahmad Khan (JeM’s Divisional Commander of south Kashmir killed in an operation by security forces on 11-03-2019), Pakistani militants Muhammad Umar Farooq and IED expert Kamran (both killed on 29-03-2019), the owner of the car Sajjad Ahmad Bhat resident of Marhama, Anantnag (killed on 16-06-2019) and Qari Yassir, JeM’s Commander for Kashmir (killed on 25-01-2020).”

The NIA statement said that the attack on the CRPF convoy, moving from Jammu towards Srinagar on 14-02-2019 at Pulwama, with an IED-laden vehicle by Jaish militant Adil Ahmad Dar had claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel and grievously injured many others.

“​OGW Shakir Bashir Magrey was produced before the NIA Special Court at Jammu today and remanded to 15 days of NIA custody for his detailed interrogation,” the statement said.