KATHMANDU:  In a major breakthrough in the Pulwama case, NIA has arrested Shakir Bashir Magrey, an Over-Ground Worker (OGW) of Pakistan based Jaesh e Muhammad.

A resident of Hajibal, Kakapora, Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, Shakir Bashir Magrey provided shelter and other logistical assistance to the suicide-bomber Adil Ahmad Dar.

Shakir, 22, who runs a furniture shop, was first introduced to Adil Ahmad Dar in mid-2018 by a Pakistani terrorist viz. Mohammad Umar Farooq and he became a full-time OGW of JeM.

During his initial interrogation, he disclosed that on several occasions, he collected and delivered arms, ammunition, cash and explosive material to the JeM terrorists including those involved in Pulwama attack.

​Accused Shakir has further revealed that he had harbored Adil Ahmad Dar and Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Umar Farooq in his house from late 2018 until the attack in February 2019, and assisted them in the preparation of the IED.

Similarly, he was also involved in modifying the Maruti Eco car and fitting the IED in it in early February, 2019.

The investigation revealed that the explosives used in the attack were determined to be Ammonium Nitrate, Nitro-Glycerin and RDX.

Besides, it confirmed that the DNA of the suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar matched with that of his father.

Other key terrorists involved in the attack were found to be Muddasir Ahmad Khan, JeM’s Division Commander of South Kashmir who died in an operation by security forces on March 11, 2019, Pakistani terrorists viz. Muhammad Umar Farooq, IED expert Kamran, the owner of the car viz. Sajjad Ahmad Bhat and Qari Yassir, JeM’s Commander for Kashmir.

​ In the deadliest terror attack on security forces, at least 44 Central Reserve Police Force (CPRF) personnel died and 20 others sustained injuries when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar drove an explosive-laden SUV into a convoy of vehicles carrying paramilitary troops on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on 14 February 2019.