LeT operative's confession sets alarm bells ringing

Recently arrested alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Sandeep Kumar Sharma alias Adil's confession that he used to travel to Punjab and UP has set alarm bells ringing for security agencies, who believe that there could be sleeper cells working in these states.

Sources in the security establishment said that Sharma has also provided leads about the overground network of Abu Ismail and his colleagues, who operate in south Kashmir and are believed to be behind the attack on Hindu pilgrims who were returning after paying obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine.

Sharma, who is originally a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, has told interrogators that he was part of many LeT meetings in which possible attacks on the Amarnath Yatra were discussed.

The intelligence agencies are now looking for possible LeT sleeper cells in UP and Punjab. Sharma has been visiting Punjab frequently since he joined the LeT. The agencies believe that he could be part of a bigger conspiracy either to establish modules in Punjab and UP or to incite communal violence. A special team of the UP Police is already in Kashmir for this purpose.

The Punjab Police has also been informed about the possible existence of LeT sleeper cells in their state. A Punjab Police team is likely to interrogate Sharma in the coming days.

Sharma was inside a house in which LeT commander Bashir Lashkari was killed on July 1. It is believed that over the last six months, he had been based in Kulgam district, ostensibly working as a welder, but actually helping LeT cadres looting ATMs.

The agencies say that he was a part of the terror group that carried out strikes at the Army at Lower Munda, which led to the death of a security personnel, and the killing of Achabal SHO Feroz Dar and of five other policemen.