Srinagar grenade attack: LeT trio arrested, booked under UAPA

SRINAGAR: J&K Police have arrested three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) affiliates in connection with a grenade attack on the bustling Sunday market near Tourist Reception Centre in central Srinagar earlier this month, in which at least 12 civilians were injured, IGP (Kashmir) VK Birdi said Friday.

The arrested trio — identified as Usama Yasin Sheikh, Umar Fayaz Sheikh and Afnan Ahmed, all residents of Ikhrajpora, Srinagar — was booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by Kothibagh PS, the IGP said, adding that the accused had executed the Nov 3 attack at the behest of their Pakistan-based handlers.

“A woman named Abida was seriously wounded in the attack. She has little kids. Similarly, another person, Habibullah, was also grievously injured. He has a bedridden son at home,” the IGP said while addressing a press conference.

Police had earlier said the grenade was aimed at a security vehicle parked near the Tourist Reception Centre, but it missed its target, landing on the crowded road filled with shoppers. The attack had followed the killing of a high-ranking Pakistani commander of LeT during an operation in downtown Srinagar’s Khanyar locality the day before. Also, it happened just a day before the J&K assembly was scheduled to begin a five-day session, prompting heightened security measures across Srinagar.

Meanwhile, security forces have intensified search operations in the city to avert similar terror acts while cops have launched night searches in abandoned houses and structures to maintain order.