NIA makes first arrest in 2019 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested an over-ground worker of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), in the first major breakthrough in the Pulwama terror attack case in which at least 40 CRPF soldiers had been killed on February 14, 2019¸ reports Hindustan Times.

The accused, Shakir Bashir Magrey is a resident of Hajibal, Kakapora, in Pulwama. A furniture shop owner, Shakir Bashir Magrey provided shelter and other logistical help to suicide-bomber Adil Ahmad Dar. He was introduced to Adil Ahmad Dar in mid-2018 by a Pakistani terrorist called Mohammad Umar Farooq and he became a full-time over-ground worker of JeM.

During the initial interrogation, he has revealed that on several occasions, he collected and delivered arms, ammunition, cash and other explosive material to various JeM terrorists including those involved in last year's Pulwama attack.

Magrey had given shelter to Adil Ahmad Dar and Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Umar Farooq in his house from late 2018 till the attack in February 2019, and also helped them to prepare the IED. His shop is located near Lethpora Bridge, and as advised by Mohammad Umar, he started a reconnaissance of the movement of CRPF convoys on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway in January 2019.

He informed Mohammad Umar and Adil Ahmad Dar about the movement of the CRPF troops in the area. He was also involved in modifying the Maruti Eeco car and fitting the IED in the vehicle in early February 2019.