LeT module busted in Kashmir, woman among 13 ultras arrested

Srinagar, May 1 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have busted a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) module involved in several militancy-related incidents, including a grenade attack on the house of moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Addressing a news conference here, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, S M Sahai said the module, operating under the name of Siddiq group, comprised 13 Lashkar activists, including a woman.

Those arrested have been identified as Rafiqa, Tariq Ahmad alias Mamu alias Farhat, Abdul Rashid Janda alias Arshad, Tariq Ahmad Wani, Liyaqat Ahmad Mir, Jameel Ahmad Ganai, Mehraj-ud-din Kumar, Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Showkat Ahmad Ganai, Shabir Ahmad Tramboo, Feroz Ahmad Malik and Abdul Majid Rather.

He said the group was functioning under the command of Lashkar's Pakistani militant commander Abu Tahir, active in Pattan and other areas of north Kashmir.

Mr Sahai said investigations revealed that the module was responsible for the killing of policemen, police sources and political activists as also grenade attacks on public places, causing death and destruction to innocent civilians.

Abu Tahir also used the group in identifying and surveying the possible places for 'fidayeen (suicide)' attacks, the IGP added.

He said the module had been tasked to indulge in widespread grenade throwing and other militant activities during the bi-annual 'Darbar Move' from Jammu to Srinagar.

During investigations, Mr Sahai said it was found that the group was involved in at least ten militancy-related incidents.

Besides the attack on the residence of the Mirwaiz, the group was also found to be involved in grenade attacks on the headquarters of the moderate Hurriyat Conference at Rajbagh, Karan Nagar bus stand, Noorbagh, Firdous Cinema, Kak Sarai Chowk, killing of Jan Moulvi at the shrine of Dastgeer Sahib at Khanyar, killing of a police constable at Soura, wounding of an auto-rickshaw driver in Khanyar and firing on advocate Sheeda, the IGP said.

Mr Sahai said three AK rifles, 12 magazines, 100 AK rounds, four pouches, two pistols with magazines and as many hand grenades were seized from the group.

UNI