New Delhi/Srinagar – In a major breakthrough, the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Mohammad Yousuf Katari for providing logistical support to terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack. The arrest followed forensic analysis of weapons and equipment recovered during Operation Mahadev in July.
During Operation Mahadev, security forces tracked and neutralised three terrorists responsible for killing 26 people in Pahalgam. Katari, a key operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy group The Resistance Front, hails from Kulgam district. Police called him for questioning two days ago, leading to his arrest.
Investigators found that Katari helped the terrorists killed in Dachigam forest during Operation Mahadev. He guided them through Kulgam’s forest months before the attack. Police identified him as an overground worker (OGW) from South Kashmir. Katari has been sent to 14 days of police custody.
Officials revealed that he held a contractual job and also taught local children. He reportedly came in contact with terrorists a few months ago and started assisting their movements.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two men in June for allegedly harbouring the terrorists. Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Hill Park, Pahalgam, revealed the identities of the three attackers. They reportedly provided food and shelter. Another resident of Handwara was interrogated regarding the funding for the attack.
The NIA is scrutinising 450 phone numbers connected to 80 cases since 2011. They found that Yasir Hayat coordinated with Malaysian-based handler Sajad Ahmed Mir and two Pakistanis to funnel Rs 2 lakh to Shafat Wani. Wani received a total of Rs 9 lakh, which funded terror activities. The NIA uncovered a foreign funding trail linked to Malaysia supporting The Resistance Front.
The Resistance Front acts as a proxy for Lashkar-e-Taiba, created by the ISI to provide plausible deniability. Indian intelligence, J&K Police, and NIA are building a dossier detailing funding, recruitment, and training. Authorities aim to trace terror financing and corner Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force.
–IANS
