12 LeT men held for suicide attack on Cong rally

Srinagar, Jun 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough in the investigations into the fidayeen (suicide) attack on a Congress rally here on May 21 by arresting 12 militants of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

Addressing a news conference here, state Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Sharma said the police have been able to unmask the conspiracy behind the incident on May 21 at the Sher-i-Kashmir Municipal Park here which resulted in the death of several innocent civilians and injury to many including, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir K Rajendra Kumar.

During the course of investigations, police were able to smash the LeT module that was responsible for organising the suicide attack on the Congress rally on May 21, he added.

''These militants not only provided weapons and uniform for the two Pakistani ultras who carried the fidayeen attack, but also organised shelter and other logistics to them,'' Mr Sharma added.

The Police Chief said the arrests have revealed that on May 5 Yousuf alias Tahir collected two AK-47 rifles, six magazines and four hand grenades from two women near an Idgah here and handed over arms to the main kingpin identified as Raja alias Mudassir Gojri, apparently hailing from north Kashmir.

While Yousuf has been arrested, efforts were on to arrest Raju and the two women, he added.

Mr Sharma said Yousuf handed over these weapons through various channels to Raju, who deposited them at an under-construction building located near the Regal Chowk here.

On May 20, Raju accompanied by Yousuf, Asif and one more militant, received the two Pakistani ultras near the SMHS bridge here and guided them towards the Sher-i-Kashmir Municipal Park where they carried out the reconnisannce of the area, he added.

On May 21, Mr Sharma said the two Pakistani militants were again led by Raju, Yousuf and another ultra, Waseem, to the same place and taken to the under-construction building near Regal chowk where their police uniform and weapons had been put in a bag.

While Yousuf helped the two Pakistani militants to dress up with arms, Raju and the other ultras went to the rally ground and directed the launching of the Fidayeen attack, he added.

UNI

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