Hafiz Saeed's son-in-law masterminded Pampore attack, says Intel

Khalid Waleed played key role in the attack, while his deputies — Hanzla Adnan and Sajid Jat — were handlers to terrorists.

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed’s son-in-law Khalid Waleed is suspected to be the mastermind behind Saturday’s attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Pampore that killed eight jawans and injured 22.

According to a report, Waleed masterminded the June 25 attack, while two of his deputies — Hanzla Adnan and Sajid Jat — played handlers to two terrorists who killed the Indian troops. Meanwhile, LeT commander for South Kashmir Abu Dujana arranged the local logistics.

Interestingly, Hanzla and Sajid were also handlers of Mohammad Naveed, the LeT terrorist caught alive during an attack on a BSF convoy on August 5 last year in Udhampur.

Read: We killed Pampore terrorists, says Army; CRPF hits out for 'claiming credit'

According to the report, Khalid Waleed is being groomed by Hafiz Saeed to oversee anti-India operations of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Waleed was associated with Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) for a long time.

Abu Qital, who oversees the terror camps of LeT in PoK, looked after the training of the two fidayeen who killed 8 CRPF jawans on June 25. Dujana on the other hand arranged for the stay of the two terrorists and their travel to the attack site.

The two fidayeens carried articles like seven grenades with 'Pakistan Ordnance Factory" markings, medicines, track suits and shoes made in Pakistan, packets of dates not available in India, 11 magazines of AK-47 rifles and used/live rounds procured in Pakistan.

Read: Terrorists in J&K's Pampore fired 200 shots at security personnel: CRPF

This, in the opinion of intelligence agencies, proves that Pakistan had a direct hand in the attack. Jammu and Kashmir police also contend that the modus operandi and the investigation so far also point to a clear LeT involvement in the attack.

These developments come about even as the CRPF and the Indian army are reportedly in disagreement over who should claim credit for repelling the attack. The CRPF has also rebuffed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s claim that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were not followed.

(This story originally appeared in the deccan Chronicle as may the case be)