Pakistani security forces arrest group commander blamed for Mumbai attack

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-12-8  |     ONLINE EDITION

PAKISTANI security forces have arrested operational commander of a banned group, blamed by India for Mumbai attacks, local press reports said today.

India has blamed "Lashkar-e-Taiba" for attacks in its commercial center, which killed nearly 180 people and injured over300.

Lashkar-e-Taiba is using new name "Jamaat-ud-Daawa" after it was banned in 2002.

Zaki-ur-Rehamn Lakhvi, chief operational commander of the group, was arrested during a crackdown launched by the Pakistani army near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, yesterday, according to the private Geo TV.

The survived attacker of the Mumbai operation has reportedly told Indian investigators that Lakhvi had sent them for the attacks.

"The Pakistani security forces have raided our camp and have arrested some of our activists," an official of the group was quoted as saying.

Lashkar-e-Taiba has denied any hand in the Mumbai attacks.

The reports quoted sources as saying that the security forces launched crackdown against the group in the Showai area, some five kilometers from Muzaffarabad, yesterday afternoon.

There has been no response from the government.

A source of the group said that the security forces first ordered the Lashkar members to surrender but they refused to accept the demand, which prompted action by the forces.

"A military helicopter also shelled areas near the camp and the Lashkar men also opened fire in the air," a Lashkar representative said.

There are unconfirmed reports of injuries on both sides.

Some activists of the Lashkar have already moved to safe places to avoid possible arrests, the Lashkar representative said, adding that the government seemed to be under tremendous pressure for such action.

"If the situation turns bad, the Lashkar leadership may hand over some people to the government of Pakistan," he said.