23 detained in connection with Pulwama terror attack

Srinagar, February 17

Security forces have detained 23 men suspected of links with the Pakistan-based militant group that masterminded the bombing of a CRPF convoy in which 40 personnel were killed, a top police officer said on Sunday.

The 23 men included members and sympathisers of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, the militant group which has claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack, the deadliest on security forces in decades.

The attack has fuelled tensions between India and Pakistan. India has demanded Pakistan close down the Jaish and other Islamist militant groups that operate from its soil.

Representatives of India's National Investigating Agency (NIA) questioned the suspects about the bombing on Sunday, two security officials said.

“They are trying to reach out to the top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad, including its Kashmir chief,” 

one of the sources said.

Mohammed Umair, the commander of the Jaish in Kashmir who is believed to have plotted the attack, is suspected to be hiding in the region where the attacks took place, the officials said.

The officials say Umair had “radicalised and motivated” the Kashmiri school dropout who rammed a car laden with explosives into the convoy on Thursday. — Reuters