Teen Arrested from Bathindi Was Being Prepared for Suicide Attack: Sources

Jammu, Dec 15: A teenager from Reasi district, recently arrested from the Bathindi area of Jammu for suspected terror links, was allegedly being radicalised by Pakistan-based handlers to carry out a suicide bombing in the region, sources said.

The accused has been identified as 19-year-old Mohammad Sajid, a resident of Reasi who was currently living in Bathindi and preparing for the NEET examination. Sources said Sajid told investigators that he was in regular contact with several youths based in Kashmir, Kishtwar, Nepal and other parts of the Union Territory.

According to sources, these individuals were part of a larger terror network operating under the directions of handlers based across the border in Pakistan. Through this network, Sajid was allegedly instructed to collect explosive material from Kashmir to execute a suicide attack in the Jammu region.

However, before he could take further steps, a joint team of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Police Component Jammu arrested him from Bathindi on the evening of November 26, thereby foiling a major terror plot, sources said.

Meanwhile, the investigation in FIR No. 331/2025, initially registered against Sajid under Section 113(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Police Station Bahu Fort, has now been taken over by a DySP-led panel of the Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Sources said provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act have also been invoked to facilitate a deeper probe into the case.

It was further revealed that Sajid had been in frequent contact with his handlers for nearly three months through encrypted platforms such as the Session app, as well as WhatsApp and Instagram. Though no specific target in Jammu had been assigned to him, he was allegedly asked to conduct surveillance of certain locations and was being gradually indoctrinated to carry out the attack.

During questioning, the accused reportedly confessed that he was unaware of the serious legal and personal consequences of his actions.

The DySP-led SOG team is currently probing all aspects of the case, including identifying other persons involved and uncovering the wider network and objectives behind the conspiracy.