leT's hand in Yatra terror attack confirmed: J&K Police

Three accused persons arrested in connection with the attack on the Amarnath Yatris last month have disclosed that the attack was carried out by lashkar-e-Toiba (leT), Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Sunday.

Addressing a media conference, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Munir Ahmad Khan, said that the July 10 terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Batengo area of Srinagar-Jammu highway which left eight pilgrims dead was carried out by leT.

"Happy to tell you that three accused persons have been arrested and they have revealed everything. leT was involved, and the accused were identified," the IGP said, adding that it would not be right to call the arrested persons as OWGs (over-ground workers) since they were rather MWWs (militants without weapons). 

Khan said the attack was initially planned for July 9, but that day, there was no movement of any Central Reserve Police Force or vehicle carrying pilgrims in isolation.

"Ismail, a Pakistani militant of leT, along with two other Pakistan militants and a local leT militant carried out the attack.

"Accused persons who provided them logistic support to carry out their plans in the state and work as their guides have been identified," he said.

The terrorists had used code words 'Shaukat' for a vehicle carrying yatris, and 'Bilal' for a CRPF vehicle, he said. 

The IGP said two lashkar militants were eliminated few days ago and their involvement in this particular case is still being investigated.