Five LeT militants arrested for Doda blasts

JAMMU: Five guerrillas of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group, wanted in connection with the grenade explosions in the mountain-locked Doda district in May and June, have been arrested, police said on Sunday.

At a hurriedly convened press conference, Inspector General S P Vaid claimed all the grenade attacks in Doda, including the one during a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in May, have been worked out.

Two people died and at least 40 were wounded in the explosion on May 13 while taking part in a rally backed by the BJP to protest against the massacre of 22 Hindus in Kulhand area on May 1.

"Sustained investigation and chase of clues led us to the arrest of the five terrorists, one of whom (Mohammad Qasim) was working as a domestic help for years with Saidullah Tantray, a leader Hurriyat Conference (Syed Ali Shah Geelani faction) for years," Vaid said.

Police are investigating the role and activities of the Hurriyat leader. The four other arrested rebels are - Javied Ahmad, Mohammad Hussain, Javid Iqbal and Riyaz Ahmed.

Vaid said three absconding guerrillas have been identified and they would soon be in the police net.

"Our teams are working to trace them."

Doda is already having substantial presence of army and security forces are having extraordinary powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Disturbed Area Act.

On Aug 10, 2001, Doda, along with entire Jammu region, was brought under the cover of these two special anti-terror acts that empower security forces to shoot terrorists.