It’s Lashkar handiwork, say cops

Tribune News Service

Anantnag, July 11

The Jammu and Kashmir Police today blamed Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) for the attack on Amarnath pilgrims on Monday night. “The attack on the pilgrims was carried out by the LeT and was masterminded by Pakistan terrorist Ismail,” Muneer Khan, IGP, said. 

Edit: The Amarnath attack

Lashkar, while condemning the attack last night,  had called it “un-Islamic.” A conglomerate of militant outfits based in Muzzaffarabad, the United Jihad Council (UJC), today blamed India for the attack. “The gang of gunmen belonging to LeT and led by Ismail from Pakistan identified as perpetrators of yatri attack. Police on hot pursuit,” Jammu and Kashmir minister Naeem Akhtar had tweeted hours after the incident. 

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 Police sources said Ismail had been active in south Kashmir districts for nearly two years. He was believed to have  been behind several ambushes and robberies.

“As per our records, Ismail, in his early 20s, has carried out ambushes on Army convoys along the Srinagar-Jammu highway. He is wanted in three bank robberies in Pulwama and one in Budgam district,” a police officer said, adding Ismail, who headed a three or four-member gang, had carried out the attack on the yatris. 

Claiming Ismail was an aide of Lashkar commander Abu Dujana, among the "most wanted" Pakistani militants in Kashmir, he said: “We have started a massive hunt in areas where Ismail is active.” 

Gujarat today erupted in anger over the death of the pilgrims. Most of them hailed from the state. People took to the streets to condemn “Pakistan- sponsored terror.”