Lashkar,not Hizbul Mujahideen,suspected to be behind Srinagar attack

The Indian Express Editorial: UPA has failed to win political ground in Kashmir

The two men,sources said,were heard speaking in Urdu,indicating that they were from Pakistan and not Kashmiri-origin militants who make up much of Hizbul’s cadre.

While the hunt for the attackers is on,they said Monday’s attack has confirmed the increased threat to the Amarnath Yatra. This had first emerged after the arrest of LeT divisional commander in north Kashmir,Fahadullah,a couple of months back. Security agencies learnt about the infiltration of the LeT terrorists through his interrogation.

Fahadullah,believed to be from Multan in Pakistan,had set up base in north Kashmir and told interrogators that he had received two batches of Pakistani terrorists last October. They came in batches of six each,but two were killed as they ran into an Army patrol.

The remaining 10 hardcore LeT men,according to Fahadullah,were sent to south Kashmir as instructed by Qasim,the divisional commander in that area. Hyderpora also falls under Qasim’s zone of operation,making him the prime suspect for Monday’s attack. Qasim was also behind the Silver Star Hotel attack in Srinagar last October.

Based on Fahadullah’s interrogation,security agencies have concluded the Amarnath Yatra will be specifically targeted this year and these 10 terrorists had been sent to south Kashmir for this purpose. Alerts were issued accordingly as it emerged that many more attacks could be planned ahead of the Yatra.

The arrest and interrogation of Fahadullah also led to another important discovery that terror outfits such as the LeT have begun using Facebook to convey important messages. That is how Fahdullah communicated with his Pakistani handlers and he used code words such as “pepsi point” and “mama point” to convey locations.

He also revealed that after the crackdown on LeT following the 26/11 Mumbai attack,the outfit’s training camp in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has moved to a new place called Dulai,about 15-20 km from Muzaffarabad. He was trained there in 2009 and according to him,the main person in charge of training now is Ahmed Bhai – also a known LeT figure.

Security agencies believe Ahmed Bhai and Muzammil are running the show in Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi’s absence.

Fahadullah is believed to have claimed that he was responsible for about 10 grenade attack in and around the Sopore area. According to sources,his own infiltration into Kashmir was eventful as he sustained two bullet injuries in the process. He stayed with a Kashmiri family for a while,recovering from his wounds,until he was fit enough to undertake operations.