Attacks on religious places 'out of question': Hizbul

Srinagar, Nov 12: The pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen, the single largest indigenous militant group operating in Jammu and Kashmir, today said it was ''out of question'' that the outfit would carry attacks on religious places.

In a statement here, Hizb spokesman Ehsan Illahi condemned the grenade attack on a religious congregation near a mosque at Tahab in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday in which six people, including four girls, were killed and 40 others wounded.

''All such acts in which civilians get killed are condemnable.

The Hizb has never allowed grenade attacks on Indian troops in markets, streets and densely populated areas to prevent civilian casualties. So, the attacks on mosques, shrines, temples and other religious institutions were out of question...We believe in religious harmony,'' he added.

The spokesman the youth, Ghulam Nabi Mir, who the Army claimed had been given the task by the Hizb to carry out the grenade attack, was inside the mosque when the incident took place.

''Mir is an innocent civilian and was inside the mosque along with other devotees when the attack took place. But, a National Conference worker whose father was punished for anti-movement activities last year caught hold of him and charged him with lobbing the grenade and later handed him over to the Army.

''Though some people present there told the NC worker that Mir was innocent, he still handed him over to the Army due to some old rivalry,'' Illahi claimed.

The spokesman expressed solidarity with people and appealed to them to be vigilant against those trying to create divisions.

''The grenade attack on religious congregation in Tahab is part of a conspiracy to create a divide. The people should differentiate between the enemies and the friends,'' he added.

UNI