SIT arrests policeman for ’role’ in Amarnath terror attack

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, Jul 15 2017 DH News: The Special Investigation Team, probing the recent terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims, has arrested a policeman for his suspected role in the incident. A ruling PDP legislator is also being questioned in connection with the case.

Touseef Ahmad, from the security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, who had been deputed as driver to Wachi MLA Aijaz Mir seven months ago, was picked up by the police on Thursday, sources told DH.

“Ahmad was arrested based on a phone intercept. The policeman had made a call to a militant handler and on the basis of that clue, he is being questioned by the SIT,” a source said.

According to sources, more than 20 people have been questioned so far in the case. “Some of them were released after questioning, while a few others are still in police custody. The SIT is investigating as to who provided the lead to militants about the movement of the yatra bus that was attacked,” the source said.

IGP (Kashmir) Muneer Khan, while confirming Ahmad’s arrest, said the SIT is probing as who provided the militants logistic and local support. “The policeman, a resident of Chakoura, Pulwama, found to have links with militants, is being questioned. He is cooperating with us and is spilling the beans,” he told reporters.

MLA Mir confirmed that his driver has been arrested for investigation in a “militancy related case”. The six-member SIT is headed by DIG (South Kashmir) S P Pani and includes SSP (Anantnag) Altaf Khan, a
DSP-rank officer and some others.

Seven pilgrims were killed and 19 injured after their bus was attacked by militants on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway near Anantnag on Monday evening.

Following the attack, Muneer had said LeT militants, headed by Abu Ismail of Pakistan, had carried out the attack.

Reports also suggested that the attack was meant to avenge the killing of LeT district commander Bashir Lashkari who, according to the police, was responsible for an assault on a police party in Achabal area of Anantnag last month.