Overview
- Mohammad Arshad, also known as Asif, was detained at Mumbai International Airport after evading arrest since 2023 while reportedly operating from Saudi Arabia.
- The SIA secured a three-day transit remand for Arshad, who was previously the subject of a Look-Out Circular and a court-issued non-bailable warrant.
- Investigators describe Arshad as the key link between Pakistan-based handlers and operatives in Jammu and Kashmir and allege he convened a covert meeting in Surankote to revive activities in the Pir Panjal region.
- In a parallel step, SIA Kashmir filed a chargesheet in the NIA-designated court against seven people, including Pakistan-based Mushtaq Ahmad Khan alias Khalid Bhai of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, with one accused still at large.
- The chargesheeted case stems from a January 6 FIR after more than nine kilograms of heroin were seized near Parimpora, while officials also cite earlier 2023 Pir Panjal operations that recovered a larger cache of narcotics and weapons.