JAMMU: National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against three accused — with links to the proscribed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)/Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) — in last year’s Srinagar Sunday market grenade attack case. One woman was killed and several others injured in the terror strike on Nov 3, 2024.
“In its chargesheet filed before NIA special court, Jammu, the anti-terror agency named Sheikh Usama Yaseen, Umar Fayaz Sheikh, and Afnan Mansoor Naik under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Explosive Substances Act, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. All three are currently in judicial custody,” an NIA spokesperson said Saturday.
“Usama and Umer were arrested on Nov 7, 2024, just four days after the attack at the busy Sunday market near TRC, Srinagar,” the spokesperson said, adding that Afnan was arrested on Nov 8 last year for his active role in the criminal conspiracy, aimed at waging war against India through targeted terror strikes on security forces and civilians.
“NIA, which also uncovered possible involvement of other terror groups in the conspiracy behind the attack, found during investigations that the trio had planned, conspired and executed the grenade attack with the intent to create panic and terror in the region,” the spokesperson said, adding that the attack was part of a broader strategy to disturb public order and further the violent agenda of terror outfits operating with support from across the border.
NIA registered the case on Jan 31, 2025. Further investigations were underway to identify the wider network involved in the attack, the spokesperson added.