First terror module arrest by JK probe agency – Srinagar man who ‘passed on rifle from Pak handler to doctor’
A senior officer confirmed to The Indian Express that the investigation agency has formally arrested Niyaz. This is the first arrest by the SIA since it took over the case from the J-K Police.
Police in Awantipora, along with security forces, busted the hideout and arrested a terrorist associate, a police spokesman said. (File Photo)
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Jammu and Kashmir’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) has made the first formal arrest in the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)-Ansar Ghazwatul Hind (AGH) “interstate” terror module that was busted earlier this month.
Tufail Niyaz, the Srinagar resident who was arrested, allegedly provided the weapon that was recovered from a locker of one of the accused doctors in the Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, officers said.
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A senior officer confirmed to The Indian Express that the investigation agency has formally arrested Niyaz. This is the first arrest by the SIA since it took over the case from the J-K Police.
Police sources say Niyaz was detained by J-K Police immediately after the module, comprising doctors Muzamil Shakeel Ganai, Adeel Ahmad Rather, Umar Nabi and Shaheen Shahid, was busted. He was later handed over to the SIA and formally arrested in the case.
While Muzamil, Adeel and Shaheen have been arrested by J-K Police and handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that took over the Red Fort blast case, Umar died in the explosion outside Red Fort.
Sources say Niyaz, who worked as a technician, was allegedly the one who provided the AK rifle that was recovered by police based on the information provided by Dr Rather. The rifle, police sources say, was in the locker that was in possession of Rather at GMC Anantnag.
Sources say that Niyaz allegedly received the rifle from a Pakistani handler.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
