After initial investigation by the Army in the Uri attack indicated the role of Jaish-e-Mohammed, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to question arrested Lashkar-e Taiba terror suspect Bahadur Ali over the identity of the attackers.
Ali was arrested in July and has become an important link in the Uri investigations as recoveries made from Uri attackers are similar to those made from Ali. NIA has recovered highly sophisticated ICOM sets, matrix-coded sheets and hand written literature in Pashto from Uri attackers.
The strategy to use matrix code and ICOM radio device was first revealed by Ali to NIA. Ali had also told the NIA that while he was being trained in PoK there were 20-25 more young Pakistanis who were undergoing fidayeen training to carry out terrorism attacks in India.
NIA wants to seek custody of Ali again and show him the photographs of the dead Uri attackers to ascertain if these terrorists trained with him, or if he can identify them.
The NIA had in August said that the arrested terror suspect was trained by military experts in Pakistan to foment trouble in the valley during the month-long unrest following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Preliminary investigations suggest the terrorists behind the Uri attack could have crossed the LoC at least a day before the attack and observed the 63 brigade headquarters from a hilltop near the base.
The NIA is now investigating if the terrorists conducted a reconnaissance of the army base perimeter before launching the final assault.
NIA is also probing the possibility of insider help to the terrorists. "How did they know the exact lay out the base? They targeted the tents housing the soldiers in no time. Looks like they had precise information about the place," a source said.
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