Jammu: A couple of days after a cowardly attack on Amarnath pilgrims, a massive manhunt is underway in Jammu and Kashmir to nab Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Ismail who plotted the attack. On June 10 a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims were attacked killing seven pilgrims and injuring several others in Anantnag district.
Security officials believe that the attack on Amarnath pilgrims, a first in 17 years, shows that terrorists were desperate to seek revenge after killings of several Lashkar militants including top commander Bashir Lashkari in an encounter with security forces earlier this month, said media reports. Security forces have launched special operation in south Kashmir to hunt down Abu Ismail.
Ismail, who is a Pakistani local, has been active in Kashmir for several years and had moved base to south Kashmir more than a year ago.
The attack on Amarnath pilgrims came the same day when police said it has busted a module of LeT and arrested one Sandeep Sharma alias Aadil who hails from Uttar Pardesh. Sandeep has been working for Lashkar since past many years and was involved in several ATM loot cases.
Interestingly, Lashkar has denied its involvement in the Anantnag attack. The terror group not only distanced itself from the attack on Amarnath pilgrims but also condemned the attack.
Meanwhile, the Centre on Wednesday said it is working to improve security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and overcome the lapses.
