Amarnath Yatra attack: PDP MLA’s driver arrested

Srinagar: A police driver attached to ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA has been arrested for his alleged links with militants, responsible for attack on Amarnath yatris in Anantnag district on Monday. Official sources told UNI that Touseef Ahmad Wani, who is the driver of Wachhi legislator Aijaz Ahmad Mir, was picked up two days ago for questioning following his alleged links with militants.

Wani was arrested and was being interrogated in connection with several militancy-related cases. Six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was constituted yesterday to look into all the angles of the attack on the yatris, also questioned Wani. "He is cooperating with the police and spilling the beans," they added.

GOC 15 Corps Lt General J S Sandhu today said the militant attack on Amarnath pilgrims was a reversal. But, he asserted that the operation against the militants will continue. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had yesterday constituted a six-member SIT headed by Deputy Inspector General S P Pani to probe into the attack.

The other members include Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Anantnag Altaf Ahmad Khan, one Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) rank officer and three other officers to assist the probe. Seven yatris, five of them women, were killed and 19 others were injured when militants attacked an Amarnath yatra bus in Anantnag on Monday.

The attack drew severe criticism from all the sections of the society, including separatists, in the Kashmir Valley and rest of the country. Questions were also raised over the security cover provided to the yatris following which Union Ministers Jitinder Singh and Hansraj Ahir, besides the Army Chief visited the Valley and reviewed the security situation. (UNI)