The terrorists had targeted civilians in Rajouri’s Dhangri village in January 2023, followed by an IED blast the next day, which killed seven people, including two children. The attack sent shockwaves through the region, and investigations later revealed that Qatal was a key mastermind behind the operation.According to the NIA, Qatal, along with two other Pakistan-based Lashkar handlers, played a pivotal role in recruiting and deploying terrorists to target civilians, particularly from the minority community, as well as security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.Sources further revealed that Qatal was also responsible for the June 9, 2024, attack on a bus carrying pilgrims travelling from the Shiv Khori temple in Reasi to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. The bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Teryath village in the Poni area after the terrorists opened fire. The attack resulted in the deaths of nine people, including the local driver and conductor, while 42 others were injured.In its charge sheet filed in February 2024, the NIA named Qatal alongside two other LeT commanders—Saifullah, alias Sajit Jutt, and Mohammad Qasim—for their roles in terror operations against India.
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