A special court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front leader Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt, the main handler of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, following a request by the National Investigation Agency.
The warrant was issued on Monday after the agency filed a 1,500-page charge sheet detailing the conspiracy behind the attack and linking Pakistan-based operatives to the plot. Sajid Jatt has been named as the key handler who coordinated and supported the attackers from across the border.
Saifullah, also known by aliases including Ali Bhai, Habibullah Malik, Langda, Usman Habib and Numan, was designated a terrorist by the Union home ministry in 2022. He is a resident of Changa Nanga village in Pakistan&rsquo;s Kasur district of Punjab province.
Investigators have stated that Jatt has been an active member of Lashkar-e-Taiba since 1998 and played a significant role in sustaining terrorist activities in the Kashmir Valley. During his early years with the outfit, he operated in the Yaripora area of Kulgam district, where he later married a local woman in 2005. He crossed over to Pakistan in 2006, leaving behind his family in Kashmir.
The investigation has revealed that Jatt remained in constant contact with three terrorists &mdash; Faisal Jatt alias Suleman Shah, Habeeb Tahir alias Jibran, and Hamza Afghani &mdash; who carried out the April 22 attack at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam. The assault killed 25 tourists and a local pony operator, triggering widespread outrage across the country.
According to the probe findings, Jatt allegedly facilitated the attack by providing weapons, funds and logistical support, while also directing operations from Pakistan. Officials have stated that he is currently being sheltered by Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives with backing from Pakistan&rsquo;s security establishment.
The attack sharply escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, bringing the two countries close to a full-scale military confrontation. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.

The NIA has also invoked the penal section against the accused

NIA names LeT leader Sajid Jatt in chargesheet, court issues non-bailable warrant

Court issues NBW against Pahalgam handler Jat

NIA names LeT leader Sajid Jatt in chargesheet, court issues non-bailable warrant

December 16, 2025 | 17:01 IST