Zia-ur-Rehman, alias Nadeem, alias Abu Qatal, alias Qatal Sindhi, was gunned down in the Jhelum area of Punjab on Saturday evening. His security guard was also killed, the officials said, quoting information received from the neighbouring country.
In investigations conducted by the NIA into the gruesome terror incidents in the Poonch-Rajouri region, his involvement was found, the officials said.
Terrorists struck Dhangri village on January 1, 2023, and targeted villagers before fleeing the scene, leaving behind an IED. While five persons were killed in the firing by the terrorists, two others died in the IED explosion the next morning. Fourteen villagers were injured in the twin attacks.
The officials said Rehman was also the mastermind of the Reasi bus attack which was orchestrated on the day of the oath-taking ceremony of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on June 9, 2024.
In this attack, terrorists killed nine pilgrims and injured 41 by firing on a bus carrying pilgrims to the Shiv Khori temple.
They said Rehman, along with Saifullah Sajid Jutt, another Pakistan-based terrorist, was the main handler of terrorists of the outfit operating in the Poonch-Rajouri belt.
