Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the brazen attack on a hospital in Sringar, in which a dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was also freed.
Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the brazen attack on a hospital in Sringar, in which a dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was also freed.
In an audio released after the attack on the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in Srinagar, Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo said that Abu Hanzalla alias Naveed Jhat has reached a ‘safe destination.’ In the 8-minute long audio clip, Naikoo also said that ‘they were forced to kill Kashmiris to free their Pakistani brother.’ This was in reference to the killing of two policemen in Tuesday’s attack.
The SMHS attack rocked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly also. The Mehbooba Mufti government has said that it would probe the attack and security lapse.
State Parliamentary Affairs minister Abdul Rehman Veeri made a statement on the incident after a ruling PDP MLA and opposition legislators raised the issue in the Assembly on Wednesday.
PDP's Raja Manzoor said one of the policemen killed in the attack was from his hometown Karnah and demanded a probe into it.
Asserting that the attack was a result of a "big security lapse", National Conference MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar sought a detailed statement from the government on the incident.
"The hospital remains crowded with patients and their attendants, and such an attack at the heart of Srinagar needs to be taken seriously," he said, and asked the government to probe how it happened.
Congress' GM Saroori and CPM legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami condemned the attack, with the latter saying it reflects security lapse which needs to be looked into seriously.
Independent MLA Hakeem Yaseen said yesterday's attack shows the "alarming situation" in the Valley at a time when government plans to hold panchayat elections in the state.
Veeri, in his statement in the House, said the concerns of the members over the attack are genuine.
An FIR has been lodged at Karan Nagar police station and a probe has begun, he said, adding, he lapses would be identified after the investigation.
The minister said around 11.30 am on Tuesday, the terrorist namely Mohammad Naveed Jhutt, alias Abu Hanzla Chotu, lodged in Central jail Srinagar and five other detainees, were escorted by a police party of the District Police Lines, Srinagar to the hospital.
"As soon as they reached the OPD of the SMHS hospital the police party accompanying the militant was attacked by some unknown militants with pistol, due to which two police personnel head constable Mushtaq Ahmad and constable Babar Khan - got injured and later attained martyrdom," Veeri said.
He said the Pakistani militant, along with the attackers managed to escape from the spot.
In this regard, an FIR under various sections, including that of murder, was registered at Karan Nagar police station and an investigation has begun.
(With PTI input)
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