NIA charge-sheets 6 accused in Kathura drone recovery case

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charge-sheet against six accused persons, including one dead, in a case regarding the recovery of a hexacopter drone with UBGL rounds and magnetic bombs near Dhalli area in Kathua in May last year.

The charge sheet was filed before the NIA special court in Jammu against six accused under sections 120B, 121A and 122 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 16, 17, 18, 18B, 20, 23, 38, 39 & 40 of UA (P) Act, 1967, sections 25(1)(a) & 25(1AA) of the Arms Act and sections 4 & 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, the investigation agency said.

The case was initially registered at Rajbagh police station Rajbagh in Kathua on May 29 and was re-registered by the NIA on May 30.

“The investigations revealed that on directions of accused, Sajjad Gul, the Pakistani handler, the accused used to collect, receive and transport the weapons, dropped over drones, to the militants active in Kashmir valley … as part of the conspiracy of wage war against the government of India,” the NIA said in the chargesheet.

Those charge-sheeted include Faisal Muneer of Jammu, Habib, Mian Sohail, Muni Mohammad (deceased), and Rashid of Kathua.

A resident of Srinagar named Sheikh Sajjad alias Sheikh Sajad alias Sheikh Sajad Gul alias Sajjad Ahmed Sheikh alias Hamza alias Albert alias Raymond Green alias Donald Green has also been charge-sheeted by the agency.

“Further investigations in the case are in progress,” the NIA added.