A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Mohammad Yaqoob, a Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba operational commander.

Officials confirmed that the warrant was issued last month against the absconding accused, who is also known by the aliases Abu Sumama, Sumama Ilyas and Waris Ali. Yaqoob has been designated as a terrorist of Pakistani origin and is accused of orchestrating terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

This is the second such warrant issued by the NIA court in Jammu since July 8. Earlier, the same court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed, the chief of the proscribed LeT, in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack case.

Yaqoob was among the 23 individuals designated as terrorists by the Union Home Ministry on July 4. He operates from Islamabad’s Chatta Bakhtawar area and is responsible for coordinating financial and logistical support for LeT cadres active in Kashmir.

According to the court order dated July 16, the warrant was sought by the NIA in connection with an ongoing investigation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act at a police station in Srinagar.

The case originated from the arrest of motorcyclist Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat at Gujar Tent, Pandach, where a Chinese grenade and 15 live rounds were recovered earlier this year.

Bhat’s arrest led to the unravelling of a major terror network spread across multiple states. Four more terrorists were arrested, including two Pakistani nationals — Abdullah Rajput alias Kamran Ahmed and Khubaib alias Usman Jatt.

The NIA informed the court that its investigation revealed the involvement of Pakistan-based handler Mohammad Yaqoob, based on disclosures made by the arrested terrorists and material evidence collected during the probe.

The agency stated that Yaqoob had directed the arrested accused to carry out terrorist activities in the Valley, targeting both security forces and civilians. After examining the application and case records, the court observed that the accused remained at large and that the investigating agency had been unable to secure his attendance through ordinary means.

Consequently, the court allowed the application and issued a general non-bailable warrant of arrest. The order was forwarded to the Deputy Inspector General, NIA Jammu, for execution in accordance with law.

This development underscores the continuing efforts of Indian agencies to dismantle cross-border terror networks and hold Pakistan-based operatives accountable for their role in sponsoring violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

PTI