SRINAGAR: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Mohammad Yaqoob, an operational commander of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, for his alleged involvement in militancy-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chenab Times has learned that the warrant, issued last month, is against an absconding accused who is a designated terrorist of Pakistani origin, also known by aliases Abu Sumama, Sumama Ilyas, and Waris Ali. This marks the second instance since July 8 that the NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against a top LeT militant; earlier, a similar warrant was issued against Hafiz Saeed, the chief of the proscribed outfit, in connection with the Pahalgam militancy attack case.
Mohammad Yaqoob was among 23 individuals designated as terrorists by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on July 4. He is reported to be operating as an LeT operational commander based in Islamabad (Chatta Bakhtawar) and is accused of coordinating financial and logistical support for other LeT cadres active in the Kashmir Valley to facilitate militant activities.
According to the court order dated July 16, the NIA sought the warrant against Yaqoob, who is listed as a designated terrorist under Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The action is in connection with an ongoing investigation into a case registered under the UAPA, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act at a police station in Srinagar.
The case originated from the arrest of a motorcyclist, Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat, at Gujar Tent, Pandach, leading to the recovery of a Chinese grenade and 15 live rounds earlier this year. Bhat’s apprehension is said to have led to the dismantling of a significant militant network that spanned various states across the country. This operation also resulted in the arrest of four other individuals, including two Pakistani nationals identified as Abdullah Rajput alias Kamran Ahmed and Khubaib alias Usman Jatt.
The NIA informed the court that its investigation, based on collected evidence and disclosures made by the arrested militants, revealed the involvement of Pakistan-based handler Mohammad Yaqoob. The agency stated that Yaqoob allegedly provided directives to the arrested accused to carry out militant activities in the Valley, targeting both security forces and civilians.
After reviewing the application and the case records, the court noted that the accused, Mohammad Yaqoob, remained at large and that the investigating agency had been unsuccessful in securing his attendance through standard legal procedures. Consequently, the court granted the NIA’s application and issued a general non-bailable warrant of arrest. The warrant has been forwarded to the Deputy Inspector General of the NIA Jammu for execution in accordance with the law.
The Chenab Times News Desk