National Investigative Agency identifies van and J&K suicide bomber’s accomplice

The National Investigative Agency has traced the vehicle used for the Pulwama terror attack with the support of forensic and automobile experts, despite terrorists erasing the chassis and other identification numbers. According to the NIA, the Maruti Suzuki Eeco used for the attack was bought by JeM terrorist Sajjad Bhat ten days before the attack which killed 40 CRPF personnel. The van was sold seven times before Bhat bought it.

The vehicle, with chassis number MA3ERLF1SOO183735 and engine number G12BN164140, was first bought by Mohammad Jaleel Ahmed Haqani, a resident of Heaven Colony, Anantnag in 2011, NIA said in an official statement. The van subsequently changed hands seven times and was finally bought by Sajjad Bhat, son of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, resident of Bijbehara, Anantnag, on February 4.

Bhat was a student of Siraj-ul-Uloom, Shopain. An NIA team was unable to nab him though it raided his house with the help of J&K Police on February 23. He has reportedly joined JeM according to a photo in social media, where he is seen holding weapons, NIA said.