The Hindu : Lashkar attack on Jammu jail, 7 killed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 04, 2004

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Lashkar attack on Jammu jail, 7 killed

By Luv Puri

JAMMU, MARCH 3. A lone Laskhar-e-Taiba militant attacked the high-security Jammu District Jail today in an attempt to free some undertrial prisoners, mostly Pakistani nationals, killing six persons including four policemen, before he was shot dead by the security forces after a 15-minute gun battle.

An undertrial belonging to the Al-Jehad terrorist outfit and a civilian were also killed. Five persons — a policeman, three civilians and an undertrial, who is a Pakistani national — were injured.

The jail, located in Amphalla in the heart of the city, houses 500 inmates, about 100 of whom are undertrials suspected to be involved in terrorist activities. They include 40 foreigners, including terrorists belonging to the Al-Jehad nabbed in security operations from different parts of the State. The prison is being guarded by the Central Reserve Police Force and the State police.

Eyewitness told The Hindu that around 10 a.m., a terrorist who came on a scooter opened fire at a police mini-bus about to ferry 13 persons to court. Police sources said that the undertrials included Pakistani nationals and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir residents who were to be produced before the Sessions Judge, Mubarik Mandi, at his court located two km from the jail.

As the first undertrial, Al-Jehad activist Showkat Ali, got into the mini-bus parked 20 metres from the front gate of the jail, the Lashkar terrorist, identified as Assadullah Mohammad Bilal, started shooting at the police escorts.

Three policemen — Assistant Sub-Inspector H.L. Sharma, constable Naresh Kumar and Special Police Officer Sukhvinder Singh — and a civilian, Chowdhary Rashid were killed.

A constable, identified as Ashok Kumar, died of injuries later at the Government Medical College Hospital. An undertrial, Showkat Ali, was killed and a Pakistani national belonging to the Al-Jehad, Zahoor Ahmed, was injured in the gun battle. Acting swiftly escort policemen managed to push the other undertrials, mostly Pakistani nationals, inside the jail premises. A Jammu and Kashmir police constable, Jarnail Singh, pounced on the terrorist and snatched his AK-47. The terrorist was shot dead with his own weapon. Four hand grenades, four magazines and some explosives were recovered.

The DIG (Jammu-Kathua range), Farooq Ahmed, said, "The terrorist who carried out the attack belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba and was identified as Assadullah Mohammad Bilal. His identity was written on the AK-47 rifle he used to carry out the attack."

The precision and timing of the jail attack has surprised the police officials. A senior police officer told The Hindu that the terrorist possibly had information about the exact timing of the movement of the undertrials.

There have been attempts earlier by undertrials allegedly involved in terrorist activities to escape from jails in various parts of Jammu.

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