Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday have constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team to probe the Amarnath terror attack.
“We have formed an SIT headed by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of South Kashmir,” said IG Munir Ahmad.
Seven Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were killed and several injured on Monday evening when terrorists attacked a bus carrying the yatris in Batingu, near Anantnag.
The terrorists first attacked the combined checkpoint of STF, SOG and CRPF in Khannabal at around 8:15 pm, and ran towards Batingu. The terrorists, then, targeted the bus carrying pilgrims, killing six of them, and escaped running towards Arwani area. They opened fire on the camp of G/90 battalion while running away from the spot.
The police have identified the main perpetrator of the attack as Abu Ismail. “Attack on Amaranth yatra pilgrims was carried out by LeT, masterminded by Pak terrorist Ismail. He was also supported by local militants,” said Muneer Khan, the IGP.
Meanwhile, LeT issued a statement early morning on Tuesday, condemning the attacks and calling it "reprehensible and unIslamic."
"Islam does not allow violence against any faith. We strongly condemn such acts,” the outfit’s spokesperson Abdullah Ghaznavi said in a statement.
While LeT still remains primary suspects in the case, the outfit’s denial in Monday’s attacks is the first of its kind. The outfit, which previously has also attacked Amarnath pilgrims, has never earlier issued a denial.
Security forces have also found a unique angle to Monday’s attacks – the support of local Hizbul Mujahideen cadre.
Lashkar had recently gone on a recruitment drive in the Valley and now have about 30 terrorists in South Kashmir, most of who are locals, and about 80 in North Kashmir, who are mostly Pakistani nationals, and are lying low at the moment.
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