The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested a Lashker-e-Mustafa (LeM) terrorist as the agency carried out searches at 15 locations in Jammu and Kashmir in connection with two terror-related cases, officials said.

An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror probe agency carried out searches at nine locations in J&K in connection with the LeM case, which it registered in March this year, besides raiding six places in connection with the recovery of 5 kg IED from a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist in Jammu on 27 June.

RAIDS CONDUCTED IN CONNECTION WITH LeM CASE

A spokesperson of the agency said, “The NIA along with J&K police and CRPF conducted searches at nine locations in Shopian, Anantnag and Jammu districts in connection with the case related to the LeM. Subsequent to searches, one accused person -- Irfan Ahmed Dar of Batingoo (Anantnag) was arrested.”

The NIA said the preliminary investigation has revealed that Irfan Ahmed Dar was involved in the conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities in collusion with other arrested accused. He was reportedly providing logistical support and also arranging arms and ammunition for LeM terrorists.

The LeM, working at the behest of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit, was declared wiped out in February with the arrest of its self-styled chief Hidayatullah Malik and his associate Nazir Ahmad from Jammu. Both Hidayatullah Malik and Nazir Ahmad were residents of Shopian district.

The case was initially registered at Gangyal Police Station in Jammu relating to a conspiracy by the LeM to carry out terrorist activities in J&K with an intention to threaten the sovereignty, integrity and security of India, the spokesperson said.

The NIA had re-registered the case on March 2 and taken over the investigation.

During the searches, the NIA said many digital devices including mobile phones, hard disks, memory cards, pen drives, laptops, besides booklets containing incriminating material were recovered from the premises of the arrested accused and the suspects in the case.

NIA RAIDS 6 LOCATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH IED RECOVERY CASE

The agency also carried out searches at six other locations in J&K in connection with the recovery of 5 kg IED from a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist in Bathindi area of Jammu on June 27, the day two bombs were dropped on the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Jammu using drones, resulting in injuries to two personnel.

The agency said, “NIA with assistance of J&K Police and CRPF conducted searches at 6 locations of arrested accused and suspected persons in Shopian and Ramban Districs of J&K.”

“It was a conspiracy by LeT to cause an explosion in Jammu using the IED. The NIA had re-registered the case on July 19 and took over the investigation,” the spokesperson of the agency said.

According to NIA, during the searches conducted on Saturday, many digital devices including mobile phones, pen drives, shells of used bullets, CDs, plastic face masks that are used during stone pelting, memory cards, handwritten jehadi material, ID card of Al-aqsa media and other incriminating materials were recovered.

Further investigation in the case continues.