Lashkar hand in Sikh massacre

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI, MAY 1. Intelligence agencies have intercepted a message of the Lashkar-e-TAiba (LET) cadre sent to an outpost across the border in Pakistan, taking the responsibility for the first time of the massacre of 36 Sikhs in Chattisinghpura village in Anantnag district in March.

The message, intercepted on April 29, was sent by an LET militant identified as ``Habib''. The message claimed the ``credit'' for gunning down the Sikhs in Chattisinghpura as well as carrying out several smaller strikes in Kashmir.

It said that LET cadre were ``happy'' that the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani and the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, had visited the site of the massacre. It also made a mention of the fact that the cremation of the victims was attended by several Ministers and high Government officials.

Well-placed sources in the Home Ministry pointed out that the Lashkar's action in claiming the ``credit'' for the Chattisinghpura killings was significant as Pak-supported militant organisations had repeatedly denied their involvement in the massacre.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : MPs immunity issue for Constitutional Bench
Next     : Indo-Uzbek road map to fight terrorism