The seemingly ordinary Android charger proved to be a fundamental evidence that led to the arrest of Mohammad Yousuf Katari, a 26 -year -old alleged over the ground worker (OGW), who provided logistics support to the 22nd April attack, officials said on Sunday.
Katari, who allegedly taught nomadic students in the higher areas of Jammu and Kashmir, is charged with the help of three terrorists – Suleman alias Asif, Jibran and Hamza Afghani – responsible for shot down 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam.
During the interrogation of Katari, he reportedly admitted a meeting with terrorists on four separate occasions on the Zabarwan hills outside Srinagar, provided them with logistical support and handed over the charger of Android, which eventually helped investigators.
Breakthrough through forensic analysis
The breakthrough came after the Mahadev operation, the operation against the terror launched in July, which resulted in the killing of three terrorists at the foot of the Zabarwan range. During the operation, the police renewed several items, including the partially destroyed Android mobile charger.
By watching the original owner of the charger, the police managed to identify the seller from whom Katari obtained. This chain of evidence eventually led to its arrest in the last September.
The importance of arrest
Officials described Katari as a key source for a terrorist group, helped attackers navigate with difficult terrain and provide additional logistics support. The arrest is considered to be the main step in dismantling the network of terrorism support in the Kashmir Valley.
The next steps in the investigation
The authorities have stated that the case may be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is already examining a larger plot after the Pahalgam attack. So far, NIA has arrested two other individuals in connection with the terrorist incident for providing shelter and logistical support to the attackers.
(Tagstotranslate) Android Phone Charger
