Srinagar:
In a major breakthrough in
Wednesday's fidayeen or suicide attack on the camp of Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF in Srinagar, police have arrested a suspected Pakistani militant, sources said.
The militant, identified as Talha, was arrested from Chattabal area of Srinagar, said sources. He is reportedly a resident of Multan in Pakistan.
Two militants were killed in the attack while two others had escaped. The arrested militant was among those who had escaped, sources said. The police said they are looking for the other militant suspected to be hiding in the area.
The militants, carrying what looked like cricket bags, entered the CRPF camp in Bemina area of Srinagar on Wednesday and walked onto a large open field where off-duty officers and children were playing a cricket match. They opened fire without cover and lobbed grenades at the officers.
Five CRPF jawans were killed and four civilians were injured in the suicide attack, the first in Srinagar after a gap of three years. Eight other jawans sustained injuries - one of them is in critical condition.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said in Parliament that the two terrorists killed in Wednesday's attack appeared to be of Pakistani origin, and the diaries recovered from them contained Pakistani phone numbers. Pakistan has denied any link to the ambush.
Mr Shinde said about 50 CRPF personnel of the 73 Battalion were present at the school for further deployment when the incident occurred.
The Home Minister said responsibility for the attack had been taken by an agent of Hizbul Mujahideen but the authenticity of the claim was yet to be ascertained.