Jammu NIA Court Issues Fresh Warrant Against Hafiz Saeed in Kashmir Terror Case

A special National Investigation Agency court in Jammu has issued a fresh non-bailable arrest warrant against Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the founder of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA told the court that Saeed, who is based in Pakistan, is allegedly supplying money, weapons and operational directions to terrorists active in Kashmir. The agency said he is deliberately avoiding arrest and remains beyond the reach of ordinary legal processes.

Accepting the agency's submission that the accused is absconding, the court permitted the issuance of the non-bailable warrant and directed that it be forwarded to the Deputy Inspector General of the NIA in Jammu for execution as per law.

The case traces back to the apprehension of a suspected terrorist at a security checkpoint near Gujjar Tent in the Pandach area of Jammu and Kashmir. A Chinese grenade and 15 live cartridges were seized from him. He was identified during questioning as Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat, a resident of Srinagar.

An FIR was registered under provisions of the UAPA, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

This is the second such warrant issued against Saeed by the Jammu NIA court in under two months. In July, the same court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him in connection with the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed. The NIA had named him as one of the masterminds of that assault.