New Delhi

National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, has been provided extra security cover after a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist arrested on February 6 this year from Shopian (J&K) revealed that he had a done a recce of the NSA office.

Officials said that Hidayat-Ullah Malik was chief of Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM), an offshoot of the JeM militant group. Malik was nabbed in a joint operation carried out by the Jammu and Anantnag police. Police came to know about his whereabouts during the interrogation of another terrorist, Ayaz Bhat, who was arrested in Anantnag on January 18.

Following Bhat's disclosures, two more terrorists, Rayees Mir of Pampore and Shakir Yatoo of Shopian were arrested. Four more terror associates were also arrested. They said Malik was staying in Bhatindi area of Jammu and was planning several major terror strikes. He was arrested from Kunjwani area of Jammu along with two pistols, grenades, ammunition and incriminating material. He was also wanted for last year's car bomb case in Pulwama. The bomb laden car was detected and destroyed last year.

Malik has now revealed that in 2019 he visited Delhi, did a “video recce” of the NSA office and sent it to his handlers in Pakistan via Whatsapp.

Ajit Doval has long been a target of Pak terror groups. Terrorist leaders there believe that Doval had a major role to play in the 2016 Balakote surgical strikes.