Pulwama Attack: NIA makes 7th arrest 

According to the probing agency, it arrested Bilal Ahmed Kuchey from Kakapora in Pulwama on July 5. Kuchey, a sawmill owner, was a terror associate who harboured and extended logistic support to the Jaish- e- Mohammd (JeM) terrorists involved in the attack.

The main perpetrators in the case stayed with him and he further introduced them to other Over Ground Workers(OGW) who provided safe houses during their stay and planning of the attack.

“Bilal Ahmed Kuchey provided the JeM terrorists with high-end mobile phones which were used by them to communicate with the Pakistan-based JeM leadership as well as among themselves for giving final touches to their planning and for execution of the attack”, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

Further, mobile phone provided by him was also used for recording the video clip of Fidayeen Adil Ahmed Dar which became viral after the attack.

Accused Kuchey was produced before Jammu NIA Special Court on July 6 which granted 10 days NIA remand for his custodial interrogation.

The probing agency said that this was the seventh arrest made by NIA in this case so far, adding that further investigation in this case has been under progress.

On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora (near Awantipora) in the Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir in which 40 Force personnel were martyred.

The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. The attacker was Adil Ahmad Dar, a local from Pulwama district, and a member of banned terror outfit JeM.