NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency which is probing the Pathankot terror attack, has filed a comprehensive chargesheet in connection with the case. According to a media report, it has named Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar as the mastermind of the attack on the Indian Air Force Base.
Other than Azhar, the chargesheet also names his brother Rauf Asghar and two other top operatives. The chargesheet was filed by NIA in Panchkula special court, Punjab. It highlights JeM's role in spreading mayhem in India and refers to the nefarious plans of the outfit. Immediately after the Pathankot incident, Rauf had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the strike, and glorified the role of his brother Azhar who was released in exchange for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.
The Centre will use the chargesheet at various international forums to highlight Masood's role in the case relating to the Pathankot terror strike carried out on 2 Januar this year. The Home Ministry had earlier given sanction to NIA to file the chargesheet against Azhar, his brother and two handlers of four terrorists- Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif, under the Unlawful Activities Act. The four terrorists who had entered India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur, had carried out the strike at the Pathankot IAF base- killing eight people including seven IAF and NSG personnel.
The chargesheet will also include evidence of linking the footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal besides matching of DNA sample found from a soft-drink can in the hijacked car of Punjab Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh.
