Srinagar: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday claimed to have arrested one more person in connection with a militant attack on CRPF on intervening night of 30 and 31 December last year in which five paramilitary personnel were killed and three others were injured.
“Syed Hilal Andrabi(35) of Ratnipora, Pulwama has been arrested. He is an active OGW (Over Ground Worker) of (militant) organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad. He is a key conspirator who provided logistic support in the form of sheltering the (militants) and conducting reconnaissance of the CRPF Group centre, Lethpora before the attack,’ NIA said in a statement issued here.
With the arrest of Syed Hilal Andrabi, total number of accused arrested in this case has risen to four, the NIA said.
Three accused already arrested “for being a part of the conspiracy for the attack” include Fayaz Ahmad Magrey of Lethpora, Awantipora, Manzoor Ahmed Bhat of Pampore, Awantipora and Nisar Ahmed Tantray of Dar Ganai Gund,Tral, Awantipora. “After his arrest from Jammu, accused Syed Hilal Andrabi was produced before the competent court and his five days’ police custody has been obtained for unearthing the larger conspiracy behind this attack,” the NIA said.
The attack at Lethpora was carried out in the intervening night of 30- 31.12.2017 by militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad(JeM) identified Fardeen Ahmad Khandey son of Ghulam Mohideen Khandey of Nazeempora, Tral Pulwama, Manzoor Baba son of Ali Mohammad Baba of Drubgam, Pulwama and a Pakistani militants Abdul Shakoor resident of Rawalakot, the NIA said. “All three (militants) were killed in the encounter.”
