In a major breakthrough in last year’s suicide-bombing terror strike on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, in which 40 troopers were killed, the National Investigation Agency on Friday arrested an overground worker of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Shakir Bashir Magrey, who provided shelter and logistical help to the suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar, the federal investigation agency said in a statement.

A top official at NIA said on condition of anonymity that on the day of the suicide attack, Magrey drove the car but got down from the vehicle around 500 meters away from the attack site. “This shows how closely he was involved in planning and execution of attack,” added this person.

The official said that the gloves, battery and ammonium powder used while making the bomb were ordered by JeM terrorists through Amazon.

“He provided shelter and other logistical assistance to the suicide-bomber Adil Ahmad Dar. He was introduced to Adil Ahmad Dar in mid-2018 by a Pakistani terrorist, Mohammad Umar Farooq and he became a full-time OGW of JeM. During his initial interrogation, he has disclosed that on several occasions, he collected and delivered arms, ammunition, cash and explosive material to the JeM terrorists , including those involved in Pulwama attack,” the NIA statement said.

“Accused Shakir Bashir Magrey has further revealed that he harboured Adil Ahmad Dar and Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Umar Farooq in his house from late 2018 till the attack in February 2019, and assisted them in the preparation of the IED .

“This has been corroborated by accused Shakir Bashir Magrey. The explosives used in the attack were determined to be Ammonium Nitrate, Nitro-Glycerin and RDX through forensic investigation,” the statement said.