‘Hafiz Saeed Is in Pakistan’: NIA Tells Jammu Court; Second Non-Bailable Warrant in Two Months

New Delhi: Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed is currently in Pakistan and is evading arrest, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told a special court in Jammu. Following the NIA’s submission, the court issued a non-bailable warrant against Saeed. This is the second NBW issued against him by the special NIA court in Jammu within two months.

The NIA told the court that Saeed was allegedly operating from Pakistan and providing weapons, funds and instructions to terrorists active in the Kashmir Valley. The agency sought the warrant on the grounds that he was deliberately avoiding arrest and could not be brought before the court through normal procedures.

How the terror network investigation began
The case stems from an investigation into a terror network operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The probe began after the arrest of Mohammad Naqib Bhat during a security check at Pandach, on the outskirts of Srinagar. Security personnel allegedly recovered a Chinese-made grenade and 15 live cartridges from his possession. A case was subsequently registered at Zakura police station under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act and the Explosives Substances Act. As the investigation progressed, several alleged terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba were arrested. Suspected members of its offshoot, The Resistance Front, also came under investigation. Two Pakistani nationals were among those arrested. According to the NIA, the investigation subsequently revealed an alleged link between the arrested Pakistani nationals and Hafiz Saeed.

Court says Saeed cannot be produced through normal means
During the September 8 hearing, Special Judge Prem Sagar noted that Saeed’s alleged role had emerged during the investigation. The court also observed that he was absconding and that the investigating agency had been unable to secure his presence through ordinary legal procedures. The court therefore issued a non-bailable warrant, allowing authorities to arrest the accused and produce him before the court if he is located.

Second NBW against Saeed in two months
The latest warrant is the second non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed issued by the special NIA court in Jammu within a period of two months. The court had previously issued an NBW against him on July 8 in a separate case connected to the Pahalgam terror attack in April, in which 25 tourists and one local resident were killed, according to the case details cited in the report. The latest development adds another legal proceeding against Saeed, with the NIA maintaining that he remains in Pakistan and is allegedly directing support to terrorist networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir.