Following the attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag, Times Now reported that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Ismail Bhai on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the incident. The attack by militants killed seven people, who were on their way back from the shrine.
However, conflicting reports emerged as News18 reported that the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police have claimed that LeT was behind the attack, but the group denies any responsibility. “There is LeT hand behind the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag district where seven yatris were killed and 19 were injured. Investigation is still going on. Security has been reviewed,” the IG Kashmir told the channel.
But, the News18 report quoted LeT spokesman Abdullah Ghaznavi saying, “Islam does not allow violence against any faith. We strongly condemn such acts.” He also went on to blame the Indian government for the attack. “India wants to sabotage the freedom struggle of Kashmiris, therefore it uses such attacks to fulfil its nefarious agenda,” Ghaznavi said.
The LeT spokesman said that Kashmiris have never targeted any pilgrims and that “this barbarity and atrocity is a trademark of Indian forces”.
While investigation goes on to establish who were the forces behind the deplorable attack, the J&K CM Mehboobi Mufti has also strongly condemned the terror attack. As the region reels under the shock of the latest attack, Twitteratis across the nation showed solidarity for those affected.
Amid all the chaos and high-security alert in the area, hundreds of undeterred devotees set off for the cave shrine on Tuesday, PTI reported.
Feature image source: ANI
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