Top militant held in J&K

Mudasir Gujri, said to be the mastermind behind the recent militant attacks on the chief minister's public meeting, tourists and security forces, was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday. They have claimed Gujri's arrest as a major breakthrough.

State Director General of Police Gopal Sharma announced Gujri's arrest in Srinagar on July 22, maintaining that his "arrest had led to startling disclosures" unravelling the mystery behind recent militant attacks in Srinagar.

Sharma told a news conference that Gujri, whose real name is Mohammad Rafiq Sheikh, belongs to Jammu's hilly Doda district of region and he had been "personally motivated and trained in Pakistan by a top Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander."

He said during investigations into the suicide attack on the chief minister's rally on May 21 and the serial grenade blasts in the capital on April 14 and July 11 this year, the name of Gujri had prominently figured and the police had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.

"He received training at various training camps in PoK. During this Gujri also expanded his influence and network with many top militant commanders of Lashkar."

Gujri was directly responsible and had taken part in multiple grenade attacks in Srinagar on April 14 and July 11. Gujri was the mastermind of the fidayeen attack on the chief ministers rally on May 21 along with other terrorists who have been arrested," the police chief said.

"With his arrest several terrorism related cases stand solved though some Lashkar foot soldiers are yet to be arrested," a police statement released on Gujri arrest said.

More reports from Jammu and Kashmir