SYED ALI GEELANI TO FACE DELHI POLICE QUERY

New Delhi Mar 01 (Only Kashmir): The Delhi police will question separatist Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who recommended alleged L ashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Ahtesham Malik’s name for visa for Pakistan.

Ahtemsham was arrested by the Delhi Police on Wednesday along with another LeT operative for planning and attempting to fire-bomb Chandani Chownk’s cloth market in Delhi and the State Bank of India branch in Srinagar.

“Ahtesham went to Pakistan from Wagah border in December 2011 on valid passport. For visa, Syed Ali Shah Geelani recommended his name. We would like to know in what circumstances Geelani made the recommendation and how he knew Ahtesham,” said a source.

According to sources, Ahteshsham was motivated by a Lashkar commander in the Valley, who is known as Usman. Usman asked him to get a passport in last quarter of 2011. He was asked to get in touch with a Lashkar commander Javed, likely to be a code name, in Lahore.

“Javed arranged for Ahtesham’s training in arms, ammunition and bomb making. Interestingly, rather than being taken to a camp, his training took place in a house. He was the lone recruit getting training there.

“Ahtesham’s training shows that Lashkar’s jehadi infrastructure is intact and Pakistan will never walk the talk as far as dismantling of jehadi machine is concerned,” said a source.

According to sources, Ahtesham’s father had sent him to Hazaribagh to keep him away from LeT operatives in Sopore as he was once arrested for links with local militants in 2007. Ahtesham’s mother is from Hazaribagh but distance could not keep him away Lashkar’s influence.(OK)