Conspirators celebrated after HC blast

Investigators have learnt that almost a week after the Delhi High Court blast, the key conspirators of the terror strike held a celebratory meeting in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir.

Investigators have learnt that almost a week after the Delhi High Court blast, the key conspirators of the terror strike held a celebratory meeting in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has got technical evidence with regard to the meeting. Investigators, however, refused to share the nature of evidence so as not to hamper further probe in the case.

Sources revealed that key conspirators —Junaid Akram Malik alias Juni, 19, and Shakir Hussain Sheikh alias Chota Hafiz alias Adil, 26, attended the meeting. Junaid is the younger brother of main accused Wasim Akram Malik, who was arrested by the NIA in the case.

According to sources, a few Pakistani terrorists also attended the Kishtwar meeting, further corroborating the NIA investigation that an independent module of terrorists, active in Kashmir, executed the blast.

The NIA is looking for two more terrorists — Ghulam Sarwar alias Abu Bilal and Saifullah in the case. The nationality of Sarwar is not clear but he has been active in Jammu and Kashmir for the last six years. Jammu and Kashmir police suspects that Sarwar had tried to assassinate a senior army official in Udhampur in May this year.

The NIA suspects Sarwar’s role for two reasons. One, the improvised explosive device (IED) used in Udhampur assassination bid similar to the device used in Delhi and second, Wasim and another accused, Amir Abbas Dev, identified Sarwar’s photograph.

“There are still some loose ends to tie before we can say for certain that Sarwar was the one who planted the IED at the high court. Our investigation is far from over. We are yet to know how Sarwar came in contact with Junaid and his associates, who basically belong to terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen,” said an investigator.

NIA also suspects that some wanted conspirators may try to escape to PoK as security forces in J&K are hot on their trail.