A knock on the door of Rajouri’s Hakam Khan on the night of June 1 set in motion the Reasi terror conspiracy in which a pilgrim bus was attacked, killing nine people.
Probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed that three Pakistani terrorists were sheltered by over-ground worker Hakam Khan alias Hakin Din for eight days before the Reasi attack. “The three terrorists who spoke Urdu and perhaps Punjabi stayed at Khan’s dhok (mud house) from the night of June 1 till 9th when the attack happened. He not only provided them with food and shelter but also helped them recce the attack spot,” an NIA official told News18.
Hakam was arrested by NIA after it took over the case on June 15. He has been questioned thrice since then.
Sources told CNN-News18 that on June 7, Hakam escorted the three terrorists to Pouni area of Reasi where the attack took place. “On 7th, he guided the terrorists to the road where the attack happened to identify the curve where the vehicle would slow down. The route recce was done with aid of the OGW. The exit point was also identified. The exact point where the bus was ambushed was a blind spot… both from up and down the slope, this point could not be seen from a distance,” a probe official told News18.
Terrorists had opened fire at the bus carrying yatris from Shiv Khori to Katra on the evening of June 9 in Pouni area, causing the vehicle to fall into a nearby gorge. Nine people, including a child, were killed in the attack.
Police suspect that the terrorists fled into the nearby jungles of Rajouri after the attack. Sources said Hakam’s questioning has given NIA some leads about how the terrorists escaped and a probe is on.
Pakistani Handler and an App
NIA suspects the role of Lashkar-e-Toiba’s Sajjid Jutt in the Reasi case. Jatt, a resident of Pakistani Punjab, carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh and has been named by NIA in its chargesheet. Two others — Sajid Ali and Abu Qatal — could also have directed the Reasi terrorists, NIA suspects.
When asked how these Pakistani terrorists are navigating through the jungles of Rajouri, Poonch, and Kathua, probe officials pointed to the mobile application Alpine West.
“The Alpine West app gives real-time information about culverts, dense forests, and obstructions. NIA has reasons to believe that this app is being extensively used as a navigation tool,” the officer told News18. He added that evidence so far suggests that before executing every attack, the handlers are contacted and permission is taken. “In one case from last year, evidence suggests that a labourer’s phone was borrowed, an encrypted app installed to call the handlers and the app deleted after the call,” the officer shared.
Common patterns
The agency is examining if a common modus operandi binds Reasi, Dangri (January 1, 2023) and Bhatadurian (April 2023) attacks. The agency is likely to soon register an FIR in the Bhatadurian case of an army truck being attacked. The agency is also assisting the Kathua police in its probe of the Kathua army convoy attack case. Prima facie, officials suspect that a fresh group infiltrated to carry out the Kathua attack. While the role of Lashkar is suspected in the Reasi and Bhatadurian cases, Jaish-e-Mohammed is under the scanner for the Kathua attack.
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