Day after DGP’s jibe, LeT names Mahmood Shah as its chief in J&K
TNN Bureau. Updated: 9/20/2017 12:59:04 AM
Front Page
JAMMU: A day after state police chief claimed that there is no one willing to take up the top seat at Lashkar-e-Toiba, the terror outfit announced Mahmood Shah as its chief in Jammu and Kashmir, while claiming that recently killed Abu Ismail was a commander and not the chief.
“Mahmood Shah is the chief of Lashkar-e-Toiba in Jammu and Kashmir. Abu Ismail was a commander of the outfit and not the chief,” Lashkar spokesman Abdullah Ghaznavi said in an emailed statement to newspapers in Kashmir.
Ghaznavi’s statement followed J&K police chief Shesh Paul Vaid’s who had said on Monday that there was a vacancy of top LeT commander in Kashmir and none was ready to take charge.
“We will like to inform DGP that our commanders claim their bravery and trophies by attacking the Indian forces despite being low in resources,” LeT spokesman said and warned that the commander, who will replace Abu Ismael, would avenge his death.
It may be recalled that Abu Ismail, mastermind of July 10 attack on Amarnath yatra of Anantnag which killed eight Yatris, was killed in an encounter with security forces at Nowgam area in outskirts of Srinagar on September 14.
After his killing, it was expected that LeT’s Kashmiri militant Zeenat-ul-Islam, 28, would take over as head of the militant group in the Valley.
However, there was no announcement in this regard in last five days and today LeT spokesman claimed that outfit’s chief is Mahmood Shah, who is alive.
Ismail, according to security agencies, was the second chief of the Lashkar to be killed in Kashmir in over a month. Earlier, his predecessor Abu Dujana, who was most wanted militant, was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on August 1.
“For India to get their hands on our chief, they must sacrifice a lot,” Ghaznavi claimed.
Ghaznavi claimed youth of Kashmir have passion and goodwill to join the ranks of Lashkar.
“There is complete harmony and mutual understanding between local population and militants. The Kashmiri youth have opted for the guns as last resort,” he added.