5 detained for helping LeT terrorist’s escape in Srinagar

Srinagar: Five suspected were detained for helping Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant Naveed Jatt to escape on January 6 from a Srinagar hospital after two policemen, escorting the detenues from central jail, were killed by unidentified assailants.Jammu and Kashmir police has also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the escape as it was suspected that plan was made with the help of some jail officials.Official sources told UNI that immediately after the escape, security forces and state police raided a number of places in Srinagar and south Kashmir. Five suspected were arrested who are being questioned. However, Naveed remained at large.

Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid said a SIT headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) has been constituted to probe how the LeT militant managed to escape. He said the SIT will conduct a thorough investigation about any possible help from the jail."We cannot say anything if there was anybody from jail involved in it, he said adding the SIT will investigate everything.," he said.

About the reason why Naveed was put in Srinagar jail when all other foreign militants are being shifted to Jammu or outside the state jails, Dr Vaid said it was because of court order. However, there were some inputs that militants were planning mischief in Srinagar jail , he said, adding, "We decided to shift Naveed and some other militants to Jammu jail. But, Naveed again got stay from the court and we could not shift him to Jammu."Naveed was among six detenues who were brought to SMHS hospital from Srinagar Central Jail for treatment, when he escaped while five other were taken back to jail.The Jammu and Kashmir Government has also ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. Naved had been arrested from Kulgam district in 2014. He has been involved in a number of militancy cases since he remained active in south Kashmir from 2012. (UNI)