The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday claimed to have arrested the fifth accused in the attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Group Center in Lethpora.
The arrestee was identified as Irshad Ahmad Reshi son of Nazir Ahmad Reshi of Ratnipora area of Pulwama district.
“A case RC No. 10/2018/NIA/DLI (Attack on CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora) has been framed against accused Irshad upon disclosures by the two accused Nisar Ahmed Tantray and Syed Hilal Andrabi,” NIA spokesman said in a statement.
The spokesman said that the accused Irshad is an active Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant outfit.
“He was a close associate of slain militant and JeM Commander Noor Mohammad Tantray @ Noor Trali. The attack on CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora was executed under a conspiracy to avenge the death of Noor Trali, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in Dec 2017,” he said.
The spokesman said that the Irshad Ahmad Reshi has been found to be a key conspirator who provided logistic support in form of sheltering and transport for the militants and conducting reconnaissance of the CRPF Group centre, Lethpora before the attack.
He said that the accused will be produced before the Special NIA court, Jammu on 15.04.2019 with a request for grant of police custody for further investigation.
The militant attack on CRPF Group Centre, Lethpora was carried out in the intervening night of 30-31.12.2017 by three militants belonging to JeM.
Four accused namely Fayaz Ahmad Magrey of Lethpora, Awantipora, Manzoor Ahmed Bhat of Pampore, Awantipora, Nisar Ahmed Tantray of Dar Ganai Gund, Tral, Awantipora and Syed Hilal Andrabi of Ratnipora, Pulwama have also been arrested earlier regarding the case.
