Amarnath yatra attack was about oneupmanship between warring Lashkar factions

Investigators say that they suspected Aijaz Wagey’s involvement, and his call details nailed other involved in the terror attack.

The attack on the Amarnath yatra was about oneupmanship between the two warring factions of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. Abu Dujana who was killed in an encounter last week had fallen out with Abu Ismail a few months back.

On Sunday, the police in Jammu and Kashmir said that three conspirators who provided logistic support to Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists to carry out the attack were arrested.

Dujana was the commander of the Lashkar, but owing to a fall out with Ismail, the latter took over as the chief of the outfit. Ismail in a bid to impress his masters that he is capable of handling the job decided to carry out the Amarnath yatra attack, investigations have revealed.

On July 10 a bus from Gujarat came under heavy fire in which 8 persons were killed. Terror groups have normally refrained from attacking the pilgrimage. The questioning of the arrested persons revealed that these were desperate measures that were taken by Ismail to prove a point to Dujana and also justify the latter's ouster from the Lashkar.

On Sunday the police said that terrorists led by Abu Ismail, a Pakistani national, carried out the attack. The police are still on the lookout for Abu Ismail alias Haroon, Abu Furkan, Abu Mavia - and Yawar, a local recruiter for the Lashkar. "The arrested over ground workers (OGWs) have been identified as Bilal Ahmed Reshi, Aizaj Wagey and Zahoor Ahmed Sheikh had chosen Botengo near Khanbal as the spot where the attack could be carried out," said inspector general of police Munir Khan. "I am happy to tell you that three suspects have been arrested. They have revealed everything," he said.

He said the terrorists had attempted an attack on Amarnath pilgrims on July 9 also but were frustrated by heavy security arrangements. IG Khan said the terrorists had used code name "Shaukat" and "Bilal" for the attack. "Shaukat" was for yatra bus and "Bilal" was for CRPF bus.

Investigators say that they suspected Aijaz Wagey's involvement, and his call details nailed other involved in the terror attack. After his interrogation, the police arrested the other two accused. The trio had also provided shelter to the four terrorists in Khudwani and Sriguffwara of South Kashmir.

OneIndia News