Agencies / New Delhi

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has identified the owner of the vehicle used in the Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF personnel on February 14.

The agency said in a statement that it has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation by identifying the vehicle and its owner after piecing together remnants of the car recovered from the scene of the blast.

The NIA investigators, with the support of forensic and automobile experts, have been able to identify the vehicle used in the blast as Maruti Eeco.

The vehicle was sold to Mohammed Jaleel Ahmed Haqani, a resident of Anantnag in 2011, and subsequently, it changed hands seven times and finally reached Sajjad Bhat, a resident of Bijbehara.

Raids were conducted by a team of NIA and police at Sajjad’s house on Saturday but he was not present. He has reportedly joined Jaish-e-Mohammed and his photograph also appeared on social media where he is seen holding weapons.