Jammu NIA Court Issues NBW Against LeT Commander Linked To Pahalgam, Other Terror Acts

JAMMU, Sept 17: A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Saifullah, who has been linked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to several major terror attacks, including the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, officials said on Thursday.

Saifullah, a resident of Changa Manga village in Pakistan’s Kasur district, is also known by several aliases, including Sajid Jatt, Ali Bhai, Habibullah Malik, Langda, Noomi, Numan, Usman Habib and Shani.

According to the NIA, he has remained active in the terror outfit for more than two decades and has been operating from Pakistan, providing weapons, funds and directions to terrorists in the Kashmir Valley.

The warrant was issued after the NIA busted what it described as a “deep-rooted” LeT module headed by Pakistani terrorist Abdullah alias Abu Hureira. Abdullah, along with another Pakistani national, Usman alias Khubaib, and three local operatives, was arrested earlier this year.

Quoting the special NIA court’s September 8 order, officials said the case originated after J&K Police intercepted a LeT operative in Srinagar’s Pandach area in March. The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of the module, including Abdullah, who had allegedly remained on the run for 16 years and established terror bases outside the Union Territory.

The NIA told the court that Saifullah, a designated terrorist listed under the Fourth Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), was operating from Pakistan and directing the module.

The agency also submitted that Telegraph IDs linked to Saifullah were recovered from one of the arrested Pakistani terrorists. According to the NIA, the communications indicated that he had provided directions for attacks targeting security forces, civilians and government establishments.

After examining the NIA’s application and accompanying material, the court issued the NBW, noting that Saifullah was at large and his attendance could not be secured through ordinary means.

The warrant was forwarded to SSP Kulgam for execution, as the accused’s last known address was recorded as Yamrach in South Kashmir, officials said.

The NIA has also stated that Saifullah served as an LeT commander in Kulgam between 2005 and 2007 before exfiltrating to Pakistan. (Agencies)