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Author: Praveen Kumar
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: February 18, 2006
The October 2005 blasts in the Capital were manoeuvred allegedly by Pakistan if the conversation intercepted of the meetings between Lashkar operatives and Dar's admission during interrogation is to be believed.
"We are being pressurised by Pakistan to carry out some action in Delhi and so we are planning for massive bomb blasts in shopping complexes, public transport, important buildings and other busy places to cause maximum loss of life and property," said Abu Al Kama when he hold a meeting with LeT commanders in the first week of October 2005, at a house in Talbal, Srinagar.
Thereafter, Abu Ozefa directed Taariq Ahmed Dar to allure and recruit more boys for carrying out attacks in Delhi as well as Srinagar. Later, Mansoor, LeT commander of Sopore district in Jammu & Kashmir, recruited two boys, namely Mohammad Rafiq Shah, the accused who planted bomb in a DTC bus in Govindpuri, and Mohammad Hussain Fazili. Both the accused had earlier worked for Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and were released from jail just before the blasts.
After the blasts, Abu Ozefa told Taariq not to take responsibility of the blasts in Delhi because of the international pressure on Pakistan. He also said that the international community could stop the quake relief in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir if LeT's involvement came into limelight. Then, Dar called Kashmir News Agency on behalf of LeT and told them that the outfit was not behind the blasts. Dar also called up BBC and stated the same with an assumed name Abu Haneefa.
The Delhi blasts and the subsequent police investigation reveal that the Lashkar's menace continues to grow in the Valley, despite the Indian Army's robust resistance. The outfit is thriving in Kashmir due to Pakistani Government's help.
The more funds they get from ISI, the more resourceful their task of spreading terror in India becomes. Police investigations have also disclosed that Abu Al Kama, along with other terrorists, in November had plans to strike at various places, including Delhi Metro, to create panic.
An intelligence report says each Lashkar battalion in Kashmir has around 60 to 70 militants. The incidents just after the October 29 blasts, in Srinagar reflect the intention of the militant outfit. Barely two weeks after the blasts in the National Capital, Lashkar operatives struck at Lal Chowk area of Srinagar, which confirmed that Srinagar was also in their hit list and was chalked out in the first week of October.
The city's busiest commercial area provoked heavy retaliation from Indian security forces, forcing hundreds of people to run and take shelter, as shopkeepers pulled the shutters down on November 14. Two civilians and two CRPF soldiers were killed and six civilians were injured in the attack.
Two days later, an explosive-laden car blew up outside the corporate headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Srinagar. Investigations disclosed that the person behind the incident was a Pakistani national affiliated to LeT. Four people were killed and several others were injured, including former minister Usman Majeed of J& K, in the blasts.
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