Lashkar commander's kin held in Kishtwar

The father and brother of a self-styled Lashkar-e-Tayiba district commander were among three persons arrested during raids conducted in connection with the killing of a relative of a Special Task Force incharge in Jammu and Kashmir, police said Jammu.

The father, brother and an associate of Lashkar commander Habib Gujjar alias Salman were arrested during raids in Keshwar belt of Kishtwar district on Tuesday night, Kishtwar Superintendent of Police Haseeb Mughal said. The arrested persons have been identified as Jamal-ud-Din and Khair Din, brother and father of LeT commander Salman, and Shahid Baro, an associate, he said.

Massive searches were on to track down Salman and his associates involved in the killing of the mother of the STF cop besides injuring his wife and two children on November 21,

he said. A group of LeT militants led by Salman barged into village Nadigad in Kehswan belt of Kishtwar district and attacked the house of STF cop Qasim Gujjar on November 21 to avenge the killing of an LeT operative, in an encounter with the police at Gujjar Mohalla a day before.

The poice has also identified the militants who were involved in the attack and efforts are being made to track them down, officials said, adding they have been identified as Sultan alias Noman, Mohammad Ishad alias Mubasher, Javed Ahmed alias Hurera and Mohammad Akhter.