LeT terrorist paid Rs 30K to carry out Udhampur blast: Police

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist received Rs 30,000 in his account for carrying out the low-intensity IED explosion outside a court complex in Udhampur district in March, said Jammu and Kashmir police.

The blast killed one person and injured 14 others. A LeT member Mohammad Ramzan Sohil, a resident of Halla Bohar Dhar in Ramban district was arrested by the police after interrogating several suspects. Two of his associates - Khurshed Ahmed of Motla Dessa in Doda and Nisar Ahmed Khan of Bhaderwah were also arrested.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh said Sohil confessed to planting the IED after receiving directions from his handler Mohammad Amin, alias Khubaib, who is currently in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The police officer added that Sohil was in contact with Khubaib through social media. He was asked to one sticky bomb IED at Slathia Chowk and save another one for the future. "Sohil's father Mohammad Ishaq Sohil was a trained terrorist of the LeT and was neutralised in 2003".

The Jammu and Kashmir police have recovered the second IED. Sohil's Jammu and Kashmir bank account received Rs 30,000 by Khurshed Ahmed on March 23 as promised by Khubaib. The blast took place on March 29.

Khurshed's brother-in-law, named Bilal Ahmed Butt, is a trained terrorist of the LeT. The second associate Nisar Ahmed Khan is also a trained LeT terrorist. He was active in Doda between 2001 and 2006.

The ADGP said the investigation is still underway and more people are expected to be arrested. He added that 15 people have been identified for questioning in connection with various terror incidents.