Valley volatile again, militants say Bajrang Dal killed cleric

Even as hardline Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for an end to the Muslim-killing-Muslim spree on Saturday, militant outfits blamed right-wing Hindu outfits for the killing of Moulvi Showkat Ahmad. HT reports.

Even as hardline Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for an end to the Muslim-killing-Muslim spree on Saturday, militant outfits blamed right-wing Hindu outfits for the killing of Moulvi Showkat Ahmad.

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The Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Taiba named the Bajrang Dal and Abhinav Bharat, denying any role in the killing.

LeT spokesman Abdullah Gaznavi said over the phone, "It is the handiwork of activists of right-wing parties, including Bajrang Dal and Abhinav Bharat. These acts are being perpetrated by Indian forces and intelligence agencies."

Shah was killed on Friday when a bomb went off near a mosque here.

Earlier, Geelani, 82, said, "It is unfortunate, Muslims are taking up weapons against their brethren. The Quran is clear that Muslim brethren should be compassionate and affectionate to each other."

The Valley observed a day of complete shutdown in protest on Saturday.