The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

Terror attack on pilgrim bus: NIA raids 5 places in Rajouri

THE NIA Sunday said it has searched five locations linked to “hybrid terrorists’’ and “overground workers’’ in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with its probe into the June 9 terror attack on a pilgrim bus in Reasi district.

Nine people were killed and several others injured when terrorists opened fire on a Katrabound bus, causing it to fall in a deep gorge on June 9. The pilgrims, who mostly hailed from UP, Rajasthan and Delhi, were returning after paying obeisance at Shiv Khori shrine. The details about these locations were revealed by Hakam Khan alias Hakam Din, who was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Reasi district on June 19. “Hakam had provided safe shelter, logistics and food to the terrorists involved in the attack,” an NIA statement said.

The NIA said its searches led to seizure of various items linking the terrorists to overground workers and that it has started examining the seized material to unravel the terror conspiracy.

Sources said Hakam Din led NIA officials to the spot in Bandhrahi forests where he had first picked up the terrorists. He also took the NIA officials to the place where he purchased ration for the terrorists. The agency also conducteds­earchesont­hepremises of some “hybrid terrorists’’ and “overground workers” in the areawhosen­amesweredi­sclosed by Hakam Din, sources said.

There appears to be a network of overground workers who must have provided shelter and guided terrorists to Bandhrahi forests — nearly 60 kms away from the LOC in Khour area of Jammu — after the attack, sources said. During questionin­g, Hakam Din purportedl­y told police that the terrorists infiltrate­d last month and they visited his residence thrice before the attack. A day ahead of the attack, they stayed at his residence and finalised the plan, sources said, adding that next day, he led them to the site and brought them back after the attack.