Threat to LoC bus: Probe into leak of passenger list

Security agencies have begun investigations into the leakage of the list of people who have applied for permission to travel by the inaugural Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus on April 7. Four militant outfits had yesterday circulated the lists to the media and threatened the passengers.

‘‘We are investigating into the matter. It is premature to comment now. We are looking into the matter as to how the militants got the list of confirmed passengers…We believe that the list had been leaked across the border as most of the militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir have their base camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,’’ a senior security official said on condition of anonymity.

President of Opposition National Conference Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the leak of the list of passengers and demanded an inquiry into the matter. ‘‘It means that militants have access to the forums meant to maintain secrecy,’’ said Abdullah who is among 10 politicians awaiting clearance from Pakistan to visit Muzaffarabad.

Preliminary investigations suggested the militants had laid hands on the list of passengers in PoK and circulated it among news organisations here, the official said.