NIA gets fresh leads in case
The National Investigation Agency, which is probing the September 7 Delhi high court blast, has now received help from unexpected quarters, it’s the cold weather conditions in Kashmir. Sources said the investigating agency has managed to get fresh leads revealing that the prime suspect in the case, Junaid Akram Malik, has been forced to move out of his hideout in the higher mountainous region of Kishtwar in wake of the heavy snowfall and harsh weather conditions in the region.
In fact, sources added, there was information that Junaid was being accompanied by at least two other close associates like Sakir Husain Sheikh alias Chota Hafiz and Amir Ali Kamal, both of whom are also wanted in the Delhi high court blast case. Following this specific tip-off the NIA, with assistance from other security forces, has launched a massive hunt for the three Hizbul Mujahideen militants.
Investigations into the High Court blast had reached a deadend as various intelligence and security agency could not track Junaid, who is said to have actually planted the bomb outside the high court. At one point of time during the course of investigations, it was believed that Junaid might have crossed over the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. However, investigations subsequently revealed that it was not Junaid but his close associate and top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Jehangir Saroori, who too was part of the conspiracy, who had actually crossed over to PoK.
“Though we did have some information that Junaid might be hiding in the upper reaches of some treacherous mountains in the Kishtwar region but despite a largescale search we could not tack him. Once the winter set in the combing operations too was called off in the upper reaches. Now there is specific information that following heavy snowfall in the area Junaid and his associates have been forced to move out of their hideout and this is our best chance to nab them,’’ a senior official said.
A massive combing and search operation is currently on by security forces in the lower plains in the Kishtwar area.
The NIA has already arrested Junaid’s brother Waseem Akram Malik for being involved in the conspiracy.
In fact, it during Waseem’s questioning that Junaid ‘s role also came to light.
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