Srinagar, Apr 8: Militant outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) have condemned the killing of Jamaiat-Ahl-Hadith president, Moulana Showkat, killed in an IED explosion at Maisuma here on Friday.  
 The spokesman of the LeT Dr Abdullah Gaznavi in telephonic statement while quoting the Lashkar Chief Wahid Kashmiri said, “It is the handiwork of the activists of right-wing parties, including Bajrang Dal and Abhinav Bharat. These elements have entered into Kashmir. These acts are being perpetrated by Indian forces and its intelligence agencies.”
 Condemning the killing of Moulana, Kashmiri said, “It is an attempt to divide people of Kashmir.”
 He called on the separatist leaders to remain united in this hour of grief and isolate the elements that are hell-bent to create wedge among the people.
 Dr Ghaznavi paid rich tributes to Moulana Showkat and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family. “Now it is the responsibility of both Hurriyats to remove black sheep,” Dr Gaznavi said. “Those who claim to be champions of truth should come forward and identify the killers.”
 Strongly condemning the killing, the United Jihad Council chairman and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen supreme commander Syed Salahuddin, termed it as a handiwork of agencies. “Moulana Showkat was a sincere and fearless leader. He was martyred to deprive the Kashmiri Muslims of a scholarly and religious personality and create confusion among them. He was not only rendering the religious services but also taking an active part in the ongoing struggle. His martyrdom has created a vacuum which is impossible to fill,” the UJC’s Muzaffarabad based spokesman quoted Salahuddin as having said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST