SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday made its first formal arrest in the interstate terror module exposed earlier this month. Officials confirmed that the agency arrested Tufail Niyaz Bhat, a technician from Batamaloo, Srinagar, after taking over the case from the JK Police.
Niyaz is suspected of supplying an AK rifle recovered from a locker used by one of the accused doctors at GMC Anantnag. The weapon was traced through information provided by Dr. Muzzaffar Rather, who allegedly received it from Niyaz. Investigators believe the rifle originally came from a Pakistani handler.
The case began in mid-October after threatening posters targeting security forces were found in Nowgam. CCTV leads led police to multiple suspects, including a former paramedic-turned-Imam accused of radicalising youth, including doctors.
The inquiry later expanded to Al Falah University in Faridabad, where police arrested Dr. Muzzafar Ganaie and Dr. Shaheen Sayeed and seized 2,900 kg of explosive material. Ganaie, Dr. Rather, and Umar Un Nabi are believed to have formed the core of the module. Umar died in the November 10 Red Fort blast, which killed 13 people.
Niyaz was initially detained by JK Police and handed over to the SIA after it assumed charge. Three doctors earlier arrested—Muzamil Shakeel Ganai, Adeel Ahmad Rather, and Shaheen Shahid—have been transferred to the NIA, now probing the Red Fort bombing.
Officials say new leads from Niyaz’s interrogation may widen the investigation further.
