Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested a second suspect in connection with Wednesday’s fidayeen attack on CRPF detachment at J&K Police Public School that left five jawans dead and 10 others injured including four civilians.
Bashir Ahmad, a surrendered militant from Uri in north Kashmir, was arrested by the police on the wee hours of Friday. He is the second ultra to be arrested after Pakistani militant codenamed Abu Talha was apprehended from Chattabal area of Srinagar city on Thursday evening.
Sources said Bashir, who is presently putting up in Srinagar, is the key player of the conspiracy that was hatched by LeT commanders across the line of control allegedly to avenge the execution of Afzal Guru. Sources privy to investigations said Bashir was the man who arranged the logistics and shelter for the fidayeens. He also did the reconnaissance of the spot before briefing the militants about the security forces movement in the area.
Sources said Bashir had received a group of five fidayeens who had crossed from Uri sector in Line of Control to carry the sensational attack. Two of them ex-filtrated back while three - Mohammed Zubair alias Talha Zarar resident of Multan, Haider of Sahiwal and Saif resident of Dera Ghazi Khan stayed back for a fidayeen attack.
Bashir, sources said, arranged the travel of the trio to Tangmarg area of north Kashmir where all of them met on March 11 and then came to Srinagar. Bashir, who had had already done reconnaissance of the target area in Bemina, took them to show it on March 12.
The same day they bought cricket kit bags from Srinagar, which they used to carry arms and ammunition.
On March 13, Bashir along with the three ultras travelled to Bemina where two militants were dropped for the attack. Bashir then took third militant Talha to Chattabal area of Srinagar where he was lodged in an already created hideout.
Hailing from a financially weak family, Talha is said to be of 24 years of age having three siblings back home in Multan. Sources said he was imparted arms training for three months in a camp headed by top Lashkar commander Saif-ur-Rehman.
The agencies are also probing the role of a junior officer in J&K horticulture department, as the two militants - Bashir and Talha - left Bemina area with him. The officer is absconding.
