Pathankot attack: Process to extradite Masood Azhar to begin soon: Kiren Rijiju

The process of extradition of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and two others will begin soon with the filing of a charge sheet by the NIA in connection with terror attack at Pathankot airbase. 

This was stated by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi yesterday. He said, since the charge sheet has been filed, the process of extraditing them from Pakistan will begin with the issuance of Interpol Red Corner Notice. A total of eight people were involved in the Pathankot terror attack. Four are dead and four are alive and living in Pakistan. 

Mr Rijiju termed the filing of the charge sheet at the NIA court at Panchkula as a huge break through. The NIA



yesterday filed a charge sheet against Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and two others for hatching the conspiracy for the January 2 Pathankot terror attack that left seven personnel dead and 37 others injured.

The charge sheet was filed in the NIA court at Panchkula in which all the four have been slapped with charges under Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Besides Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and two handlers - Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan - have been named in the exhaustive charge sheet. While Interpol Red Corner Notice against three has been issued, the same was pending against Jan, the NIA said.