Police file charge sheet against LeT, 8 of its members in Amarnath attack case

The Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday filed a charge sheet against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and eight of its members, including a juvenile, in connection with the attack on a bus carrying pilgrims to Amarnath in July last year that left eight people dead.

“We have carried a thorough investigation and completed it in stipulated time. We have established the case against Lashkar-e-Taiba and the accused,’’ deputy inspector general of police (South Kashmir) SP Pani said.

The police have charged the accused of murder, attempt to murder, causing grievous hurt with the use of weapons and prevention of unlawful activities in their 1,500-page charge sheet.

Four of the accused are in police custody and four others are still at large. The suspected mastermind of the attack, Abu Ismail, was killed in a gun battle with security forces in September last year. And in December 2017, police claimed that the group of militants behind the attack was “wiped out’’.

“During the course of the investigation, it was established that PAK based LeT terrorists were involved in SANJY attack. Further, on the basis of evidence collected during the course of investigation complicity of eleven (11) people was established, out of which four (04) persons including one (01) juvenile were arrested in the instant case,” a police spokesperson said.

The police have identified three of the accused as Aijaz, Bilal and Zahoor. Another accused, who is a juvenile and cannot be named as per law, was also arrested and is presently out on bail.

Officials said these four are Lashkar-e-Taiba’s “over ground workers”, who provided logistical help, including a vehicle, to militants before the attack on the pilgrims.

“The four were also present when the attack was taking place,’’ a senior police officer said.

The four others named as accused are Khalid Muzafar Dar of Rehpora Khudwani, Tanveer Ahmad Dar of Rehpora Khudwani and Sarjeel Ahmad Shiekh of Khudwani. They are absconding.

The officer said considerable progress has been made in the probe into the July 10 terror attack.

At least 15 others were also injured when militants attacked the bus with 56 people near Anantnag on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.