NIA court issues non-bailable warrant against LeT commander Yaqoob

A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Mohammad Yaqoob, a designated Pakistani-origin commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), for planning terror attacks in Kashmir. The warrant was issued on July 16 under the UAPA, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, based on an ongoing investigation. Yaqoob is the second top LeT figure to face an NBW from this court since July 8, when a similar warrant was issued against Hafiz Saeed in the Pahalgam terror attack case.

Yaqoob operates from Islamabad and coordinates financial and logistical support for LeT cadres in Kashmir, according to officials. The case stems from the January arrest of motorcyclist Mohammad Naqeeb Bhat, which led to the busting of a terror network and the arrest of four more individuals, including two Pakistani nationals. The NIA told the court Yaqoob had directed the accused to attack security forces and civilians. As he remains at large, the court ordered the warrant forwarded to the Deputy Inspector General, NIA Jammu for execution.