Two held for killing eight soldiers near Srinagar

The Jammu and Kashmir Police said Friday it arrested two men involved in providing support for the June 24 guerrilla attack on an army convoy on the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar highway in which eight soldiers were killed.

"In a significant development, Jammu and Kashmir Police has cracked Hyderpora attack case in which eight army men were killed June 24.

"We have so far arrested two people - Naveed-ul-Islam resident of Mochua, Chadoora in Badgam district) and Bilal Ahmad Lone, resident of Khan Colony, Chanapora in Srinagar - who were part of the criminal conspiracy and provided logistical support to the attackers and accompanied them to the spot of attack," said Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Abdul Ghani Mir at a press conference here.

He said the attack was carried out by Irshad Ahmad Ganie alias Abu Abdullah, a resident of Larkipora, Awantipora (Pulwama district) and Pakistani terrorist Hamza alias Zeeshan.

"Both the militants owe affiliation to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and this attack was masterminded by LeT's divisional commander for south Kashmir, Qasim, a Pakistani militant, on the direction of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir-based LeT commander Hanzallah Adnan alias Ahmad Bhai.

"The investigation reveals that there are some other people who have provided logistical support to the attackers and they have also been identified," the IGP said.