145;Prayer attack at Hizbul behest146;

Youth in army custody says he was forced to throw grenade for Rs 1,000; Hizb denies involvement

When Ghulam Nabi Mir, the youth who allegedly hurled the grenade at worshippers in Tahab on Friday killing five people 8212;- four of them children 8212;- and injuring 40 others, spoke in Army custody today about his backers, the word he uttered slowly in his wincing, whispering voice was 8220;HM8221;, the acronym for the Valley8217;s largest militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

He said a militant of the outfit had prevailed on him to throw the grenade on prominent South Kashmir cleric Abdur Rashid Dawoodi on payment of Rs 1,000, and that he only followed orders. 8220;HM militant Gulzar Ahmad Mir met me a week before and persuaded me to hurl a grenade on Dawoodi Sahib. I first declined, then I was paid Rs 1,000,8221; says Mir. 8220;He gave me the grenade a day before and showed me how to throw it. I went to Tahab and joined Dawoodi Sahib8217;s procession and then lobbed a grenade at him.8221;

The Army seconds this version. Says Brigade Commander G S Katoch of Army8217;s 70 Brigade in South Kashmir: 8220;Yes, HM is behind the attack. They attacked Dawoodi because he was working for peace in Kashmir. They recruited Mir, for the assault because they wanted to keep trained cadre out of harm8217;s way.8221;

The Hizbul Mujahideen was quick to deny the charges. 8220;The attack on Dawoodi was part of a larger conspiracy. It was an attack on the Hizb8217;s South Kashmir base,8221; Hizb spokesman Junaid-ul-Islam said today. 8220;We don8217;t understand how can they blame us. The Hizb cannot even remotely think of such an attack at this crucial stage of the freedom movement.8221; Junaid added that Mir had no links with the Hizb and was confident that the government8217;s attempt to link Hizb with the attack will not cut any ice with the people. 8220;The Kashmiris know the truth. They don8217;t go by propaganda,8221; he said.

Head of Saut-ul-Aulia The Voice of Saints Abdur Rashid Dawoodi, who was the cleric targeted in Friday8217;s attack, did not pursue the Hizbul link. 8220;The boy Mir had already talked to the media about the perpetrators. I have nothing more to add. No, I can8217;t say anything conclusively on the Hizbul link. Hundreds of agencies work in Kashmir, who is to blame?8221;

Mir had been caught by a mob at the Tahab, and according to him, tortured till he was taken into custody by the Army. The Army said the villagers had handed him over to them last night after some tough negotiation.