Lashkar denies hand in Mumbai, Srinagar terror attacks

Srinagar, July 11 (UNI) The Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) tonight condemned and denied involvement in Mumbai serial blasts and five grenade explosions in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

While at least 60 people were killed and 200 others wounded in seven explosions in local trains in India's commercial capital, eight tourists were killed and more than 40 wounded in Srinagar grenade blasts.

In a telephonic statement to several media organisations here, Lashkar spokesman Dr Abdullah Ghaznavi condemned in strongest terms the serial blasts both in Mumbai and Srinagar.

''These are inhuman and barbaric acts. Islam does not permit killing of an innocent person,'' he added.

Dr Ghaznavi said those who have perpetrated such ''dastardly acts'' were ''enemies of humanity''.

''Blaming the Lashkar-e-Toiba for such inhuman acts is an attempt by the Indian security agencies to defame the freedom struggle in Jammu and Kashmir,'' he said.

The LeT spokesman also termed as ''false and full of lies'' the claim by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) that they have arrested one Lashkar militant responsible for the grenade attacks on the tourists in Srinagar.

''The Lashkar has no association with the arrested person. We totally disown him,'' he added.

''We have launched jehad against the Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir...We do not believe in killing innocent civilians belonging to any part of the world,'' the Lashkar spokesman said.

UNI AG VD RN2100