LeT man held for Nadimarg

The Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have made a major breakthrough in the probe related to the Nadimarg massacre by arresting the ...

The Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have made a major breakthrough in the probe related to the Nadimarg massacre by arresting the ‘‘architect’’ of the killings, Mustafa alias Abdullah Umar.

An AK-47, a wireless set and ammunition were also recovered from the self-styled Anantnag district commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba, the police said.

Parading the accused before mediapersons at the Police Control Room here, Director General of J-K Police A K Suri claimed the militant had plotted the killings but didn’t participate in it personally.

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‘‘Apart from confessing to have planned the killings of 24 Kashmiri Pandits, he disclosed that LeT was planning to target VHP, RSS leaders and the Somnath temple in Gujarat on instructions from Pakistan. We want to reiterate our contention that these attacks are being done at the behest of Pakistan,’’ Suri said.

He said documents seized from Mustafa ‘‘confirmed’’ the new strategy of LeT of looting houses of the minority community. ‘‘As per the papers recovered from him, it’s called Male-Ganemmet (booty) which seems to be part of the programme of LeT to overcome its financial crunch.’’ Mustafa, the police said, had also confirmed the involvement of LeT under his command in various activities that included the fidayeen attack on Awantipora airport in 2001. ‘‘His arrest is a major setback to LeT in Anantnag district,’’ Suri claimed.

Mustafa reportedly infiltrated into the Valley in September 2001 and was operating in Pulwama along with six others. ‘‘He was also in the process of recruiting local boys for LeT,’’ Suri added.

Police said that in December 2002, Mustafa was party to a top-level Lashkar meeting convened by a Pakistani militant Abu Numan — killed later — held at the behest of Abu Umair, Divisional commander of LeT.

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‘‘During the meeting it was decided that retaliatory action should be taken in the wake of the post-Godhra riots. He confirmed that LeT was involved in the Nadimarg massacre on March 23 as per the message received from Abu Umair,’’ Suri said.

Detailing what he said were the new strategies of Lashkar, Suri said they were trying to force locals to not to send their children to army schools. Efforts were on to establish bases among Muslim youth in Delhi, Gujarat and other places for waging jehad, he said.

‘‘Emphasising on the need to create more hideouts in the valley the commanders have been directed to create hideouts in the residences of political activists especially belonging to PDP, Congress, National Conference apart from those of security force officials,’’ Suri said.