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Two main accused in Chattisinghpora massacre arrested

Two Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Tayiba militants, the main accused in the massacre of 35 Sikhs at Chattisinghpora in Anantnag district in March at the time of United States President Bill Clinton's visit, have been arrested, a top police officer said on Thursday.

Mohammad Suhail Malik alias Amir and Zahid Hussain alias Zahid, both Pakistani nationals belonging to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, were arrested three days back, Inspector General of Police, P S Gill, told reporters in Srinagar.

During interrogation, both admitted to committing the crime under directions from their Pakistani mentors to time it with President Clinton's visit, the IGP said.

Amir had fired 20 rounds on the defenceless Sikhs, he said, adding interrogation of the two was still in progress.

The attackers deliberately wore army-style uniforms, raised pro-Hindu slogans and left behind empty liquor bottles to put the blame on the Indian army and thereby defame it, the two told their interrogators, Gill said. He said a detailed and thorough interrogation was conducted and their identities have been established.

The interrogation revealed that they were hardcore LeT terrorists. They were part of the Anantnag LeT gang and had entered the country illegally through the Rajouri border last year, the IGP said. Zahid has also been involved in three attacks against security forces.

LeT was also involved in the firing on Amarnath pilgrims at Pahalgam on August one in which 35 yatris (pilgrims) were killed. It was also responsible for the abortive attack on the Jammu registration centre of the yatra (pilgrimage), Gill said.

Based on the leads and evidence collected from the site of the two encounters at Pahalgam and Jammu, the Special Operations Group, Srinagar, had sent out search parties to different locations, the IGP said.

He said one such party came up with specific information about some suspicious elements. The SOG mounted surveillance on their movements. When it became clear that they were Pakistani nationals masquerading as Indian students, the two suspects were picked up for questioning, Gill said.

He declined to divulge the place from where they were arrested saying it could hamper investigation.

PTI

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