New Delhi, April 9
A day after the killing of Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, it has emerged that Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives based in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir might be behind the IED blast outside a mosque in Srinagar that killed the moderate Muslim cleric. Their motive: to misguide people and spread unrest.

Sources in the Indian security establishment claim that as per the intercepts of a telephonic message, LeT self-styled spokesman Dr Abdulla Gaznavi spoke to a Kashmiri ‘reporter’, Riaz, directing him to spread misinformation that the blast was the handiwork Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal.

Besides, the LeT wanted Riaz to spread that more such actions were likely on part of these organisations. The intercept was shared with the unified command at Srinagar and also with other snooping and security agencies of the country.

Given the fact that snow was now melting in the higher reaches, the LeT appeared desperate to spread chaos in the Valley so as to step up infiltration, as per intelligence agencies.

Sources said Dr Ghaznavi, via a satellite phone, directed Riaz to spread the message so as to misdirect people about the blast and point an accusing finger at the right wing organisations of India.

In February as well, the LeT had tried to discredit the Indian security forces of the killing of two teenaged sisters in Sopore. Dr Ghaznavi had then said: “Innocent girls have been killed by the Indian agencies to create confusion among the people and to defame the LeT.”

But the LeT denial came after the outfit was condemned for the killings by various separatist outfits, including both the Hurriyat factions. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had also accused two Let militants (for the killings).