LeT module behind attacks on Hurriyat chairman busted

SRINAGAR: With the arrest of 13 militants, including a woman, Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday busted a Lashkar-e-Toiba module that carried out several grenade attacks, including on the residence and office of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference.

"The J&K police have busted another module of militants, who were working under the direct command of a Pakistani militant and LeT commander Abu Tahir," Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, SM Sahai said.

Investigations have revealed that the group, which was operating under the code name of Siddiq, was involved in at least 10 incidents including attacks on residence and office of the Mirwaiz, he said.

Sahai said investigations have revealed how Lashkar was trying to intimidate the moderate faction of the Hurriyat.

"The militant outfit had also been tasked to target the moderate separatist faction in the Hurriyat conglomerate. The grenade attack at the residence of the Mirwaiz on January 15 this year is an example," he said.

Pointing to the trend of 'outsourcing' of activities by militants, where civilians and criminals are given money to carry out attacks, Sahai said it has come to light that the module was not only working for LeT, but taking orders from Hizbul Mujahideen as well.

Besides the attack on Hurriyat, the module was responsible for killing of policemen, police informers and political activists and also lobbing grenades in public areas of the city, he said.

"This module was also executing different acts of terrorism for Hizbul on the direction of its district commander Zahoor for pecuniary benefits," he said.