NIA to Seek Permission for Lie Detector Test on LeT Operative

The NIA brought suspected LeT operative, Showkat Ahmed Bhat, to New Delhi for permission to conduct polygraph test

Mohammed Naved Yakub, captured alive in an encounter in Udhampur (Photo: PTI)

Showkat Ahmed Bhat was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with last month’s Udhampur terror strike on a BSF bus that left its two personnel dead. He was brought New Delhi on Sunday evening for a scientific analysis of his statements. Bhat will be subjected to a lie detector test.

A resident of Pulwama in south Kashmir, Bhat was placed under arrest on September 1 by the NIA.

One of the attackers, identified as Mohammed Noman alias Momin, was killed in retaliatory fire. Mohammed Naved Yakub was captured alive by villagers and handed over to the police.

Bhat will be produced before a court on Monday so that the NIA can seek permission to conduct a polygraph test on him. Official sources have said the test will be conducted at the central forensic science laboratory.

Bhat was arrested on August 5 and was in custody of the Jammu and Kashmir police immediately after the terror strike. He was booked under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act.

NIA said 36-year-old Bhat was allegedly involved in transporting a group of four LeT terrorists— Mohammad Naved Yakub, Zhargham alias Mohammed Bhai, Abu Okasa and Noman. He is suspected to have taken them from Baba Reshi in Baramulla district to south Kashmir soon after they had infiltrated India from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The anti-terror agency has also arrested Khursheed Ahmed, who ferried the terrorists to Jammu on two occasions.