Police on Tuesday said they have arrested two youth involved in the grenade attack that left seven civilians injured here.
A senior police official identified the arrested persons as Fayaz Ahmad Kumar alias Narsimha of Khanpora, Baramulla and Aqib Sharif Bhat alias DK of Syed Karim Baramulla. The official said both the accused were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiaba militant outfit.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla Abdul Qayoom described the arrested persons as “stone pelters against whom several FIRs are registered.” He said they have been earlier detained under Public Safety Act (PSA).
“There are 37 FIRs registered against Fayaz Ahmad and he has been earlier detained seven times under Public Safety Act. Similarly Aqib Sharif has three FIRs registered against him for being involved in the anti national activities,” the SSP said.
The police official said the grenade attack was meant to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the town. He said the duo had “received grenade from neighbouring district and were planning to receive some Pakistan-based militants after the attack.”
“Our focus has now shifted to the neighbouring district after it surfaced that duo has received grenade from there and were about to receive some foreign militants at Baramulla so that militancy related activities are carried out in the town,” the SSP said.
To a question about presence of militants in Baramulla, the SSP said there was no foreign militant operating in the district. He said the presence of militants associated with Hizbul Mujahideen was “almost zero”, while most of the LeT militants including some top commanders had been already killed.
To another question, the SSP said the aim of Kreeri attack in which two top LeT commanders were killed was to snatch arms from the security personnel.
“There top LeT commanders had been already killed an the presence of both HM and LeT militants in Baramulla district is almost nil. Even earlier militants were short of arms and Kreeri attack was aimed to snatch arms from the security personals but ended up in the killing of LeT militants,” said the SSP.