Srinagar, July 14: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken a very aggressive step in its investigation into the horrific terrorist attack on innocent tourists in the tourist destination of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir last year. A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant with an open date against the mastermind of the attack, Hafiz Saeed, a global terrorist of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) organization.
The NIA told the court that all international diplomatic channels to bring the terrorist, who is hiding in Pakistan, to India have been virtually exhausted. In this context, the court has given the green signal to conduct an in absentia trial in his absence, even if he does not come to India.
On April 22, 2025, Lashkar terrorists opened fire on innocent tourists from different parts of India who had come to enjoy the beauty of Kashmir. This was the most brutal attack in recent years, killing 26 tourists.
The entire country shed tears when entire families who had gone on a happy trip returned dead. In the supplementary chargesheet filed by the NIA on July 6, it has been proven with evidence that the sketch of this entire horrific bloodshed was prepared on Pakistani soil and that it was this same Hafiz Saeed who provided financial and training support.
What is this new legal weapon? Hafiz Saeed is deliberately escaping from the Indian courts while being protected by Pakistan. But under India’s new law, the ‘Indian Civil Security Code’ (BNSS), he has got a strong weapon.
Trial in Absenteeism: According to the new law, if an accused is outside India and evades court summons and warrants, the court can declare him a ‘proclaimed offender’ and continue the investigation and trial without his physical presence.
Asset Confiscation and Harsh Punishment: If Hafiz Saeed is found guilty at the end of this trial, India will have full legal power to announce the maximum punishment for him, confiscate the assets of any of his supporters in India and issue a Red Corner Notice internationally.
Death row ready for the rest of the terrorists The NIA has already named Pakistani terrorists Suleman, Jibran, Hamza Afghani, Sajid Saifullah Jatt and Pahalgam residents Bashir Hai Ahmed and Parvez Ahmed, who sheltered them locally, in its first chargesheet in this case.
The Indian Army and the NIA have continued their joint operations to root out the entire network of cross-border terrorism. With this new law, India has given a masterstroke to legally corner Hafiz Saeed at the international level, who is enjoying royal hospitality in the shadow of Pakistan’s ISI.