3 held for killing prominent Muslim religious leader

Srinagar, Apr 16 (PTI) In a major breakthrough, Jammu
And Kashmir police Saturday arrested three persons in
connection with the killing of Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees president
Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah in a blast last week.
The arrested persons have been identified as Abdul
Ghani Dar alias Abdullah Ghazali, President of 'Sautul Haq'
(the voice of truth), a radical politico-religious outfit and
two others -- Javed Ahmad Munshi and Nisar Ahmad Khan.
Shah was killed in an IED blast on April 8 as he was
entering a mosque in Maisuma in the northern Indian state area
of the city to lead Friday prayers.
The breakthrough was achieved after State intelligence
worked on some clues gathered from the scene and zeroed in on
the accused. The information was passed on to state police,
which carried out the arrests.
'Sautul Haq' is a group of radical elements and many
of them are also members of the Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees.
"Members of the radical outfit and some other radical
elements have been found to be behind the conspiracy (to kill
Shah). It was an attempt by these elements to take control of
Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees," Kashmir Inspector General of Police S M
Sahai told reporters here.
He said Ghazali had discussed the broad contours of
the plan with Ashiq Hussain Faktoo alias Dr Qasim, husband of
Asiya Indrabi -- chief of radical women's outfit
Dukhtaran-e-Millat.
Faktoo is currently lodged in central jail here and
the plan was discussed during a visit paid by Ghazali to him.
The IGP said Jameel-ur-Rehman, General Secretary of
United Jehad Council -- a PoK-based amalgam of militant
outfits -- was also in touch with the conspirators.
"The actual execution of the plan was left to Munshi
alias Billa Papa, who had sought help of Lashkar-e-Toiba
commander Abdullah Uni," Sahai said.
He said Munshi received some materials used in the IED
from the Lashkar commander and got other parts locally.
"The actual triggering of the blast was entrusted to
Khan alias Ishaq," he said.
Munshi, a former militant, was trying to revive the
Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen outfit in the Valley.
Shah was perceived as against sectarianism and his
work in education sector was seen as a compromise.
"When they failed to dislodge him through
(organisational) elections, a conspiracy was hatched to
eliminate him in 2010," Sahai said, adding Shah's proximity to
certain separatist leaders was not liked by radical elements.
Shah had developed close association with Jammu
Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik
and was seen as a peacenik.