Although the BJP leaders had wasted no time in distancing themselves from Altaf Hussain Shah alias “Talib Hussain,” filing of a supplementary chargesheet against this Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist is likely to haunt the Saffron Party again, especially during the electioneering in J&K.
On Friday the State Investigation Agency (SIA) in Jammu has filed a supplementary chargesheet against two terrorists, one of whom is a former BJP leader turned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative. The chargesheet pertains to their involvement in several terrorist activities within the Kandi-Budhal area of Rajouri district.
Arrest and Background:
Altaf Hussain Shah, also known as “Talib Hussain,” was arrested in July 2022.
Despite the BJP leadership distancing itself from Talib Hussain, numerous viral pictures showed top party leaders alongside him after his arrest.
Before his arrest, Talib Hussain worked for a news channel and led the IT cell of the BJP’s Minority Wing.
Villagers in Tuksan, Reasi district, apprehended him along with another terrorist, Faizal Ahmed Dar, who hails from Pulwama and is categorized as a terrorist.
Terrorist Activities:
Talib Hussain is connected to the Udhampur blast and twin blasts in Rajouri district.
He was previously charged with the murder of a toddler, who happened to be the nephew of a BJP leader in Rajouri.
Significant Case and Investigation:
An official handout from the J&K Police highlighted a significant terrorism case registered at Police Station Mahore.
The police and security forces arrested the two terrorists in the Budhal area, seizing a cache of automatic weapons and other war-like materials.
During interrogation, the terrorists confessed to various acts of terrorism, including killings, injuries, grenade attacks, and IED planting in crowded areas of Kandi-Budhal, causing substantial damage to government properties.
The investigation was transferred to the SIA Jammu due to its complexity and the anticipated involvement of more associates.
Mastermind and Drone Drops:
The terrorists were acting on behalf of Mohammad Qasim, alias Salman aliasWaseem, a top-ranking “A” grade LeT terrorist.
Qasim, originally from Angralla district Reasi, had exfiltrated to Pakistan for arms training in 1990.
The accused received arms, ammunition, and other supplies via drone drops in the Lamberi area of Rajouri district. They then relocated these materials to Kandi Budhal for terrorist activities under instructions from Pakistani handlers.
Further Arrests and Ongoing Investigation:
The SIA Jammu subsequently arrested two more associates of the LeT module.
These associates confessed to their involvement in various terrorist acts and the transportation of weapons and ammunition from Lamberi to Kandi-Budhal alongside Talib Hussain Shah.
The police spokesperson emphasized that the LeT module’s deep-rooted conspiracy to expand terrorist activities in Rajouri district and challenge India’s sovereignty and integrity has been exposed. The investigation continues to identify and apprehend more associates of the Lashkar-e-Taiba module.
Earlier charge-sheeted for killing 2-yr-old nephew of party leader
Talib Hussain was earlier chargesheeted for a grenade attack in 2021 in which a two-year-old child Veer Singh was killed and seven others were injured. He was charge-sheeted with a PoJK-based terrorist Mohammad Qasim alias Suleiman.
Reports said that on the direction of PoJK-based terrorist Qasim, Altaf Hussain committed the gruesome crime of throwing a grenade inside the house of a BJP leader in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.
On August 12, 2021 terrorists struck in the heart of Rajouri town and threw grenades at the residence of BJP Mandal president Jasbir Singh killing his two-year-old nephew and injuring six family members including the BJP leader, two of them seriously.
The blast was triggered by a grenade lobbed by the terrorists in which seven persons were injured and one of them, an infant, later succumbed to the wounds at the hospital.
The deceased has been identified as two-year-old Veer Singh son of Balbir Singh and nephew of BJP Mandal president Jasbir Singh, an ex-serviceman whose house was targeted by the terrorists at Khandli Bridge Chowk in the heart of Rajouri town.
