LeT militant responsible for serial blasts arrested: IG CRPF

Srinagar, July 11 (UNI) Claiming to have resolved the series of blasts that left eight people dead and over 40 injured today, the security forces arrested a Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant here before he could hurl another grenade, a senior security force officer said.

''We have arrested LeT militant Saleem, a resident of Sopore, before he could throw another grenade immediately after fifth blast at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) near here in which six people were injured, ''Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) A A P Maheshwari told UNI this evening.

A series of blasts in the city left 8 dead and over 40 others injured today.

The IG said todays attacks were in retaliation to the killing of top commander of different militant outfits by the security forces in the Kashmir valley recently.

''They are frustrated and their morale is very low, he said adding the LeT had recently appointed eight to nine youths from north Kashmir for carryout attachs. Out of these, today six boys from north Kashmir, mostly from Bandipora area, had entered the city where they were provided hand grenades by local contacts, the IG said.

When asked about the recent increase in the violence, the CRPF chief in Kashmir said it was a low intensity war going on in the valley.

''Militants often change their strategy, he said adding that they also changed their steps to meet the challenge.

He said because of heavy loss suffered by the militants, they (militants) are now hitting the soft targets to remain in news.

They avoid direct contact with the security forces since they know they will get killed, ''he said, them.

Mr Maheshwari said Saleem had confessed during the questioning that they were give clear direction by the LeT commander to attack tourists and others.

Saleem has also said they had plan to attack at two more places in the city.

UNI BAS VD RN2108