Lashkar behind trouble in kashmir: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Home minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley where 11 civilians have died in firing by security forces on protesting mobs in the last month.

"The anti-national forces are linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba," Chidambaram told reporters, when asked if the elements he had blamed Tuesday for inciting agitation in the Valley were from Pakistan.

He said the LeT was active in the north Kashmir Sopore town, the worst hit by violent street protests.

"Two militants were killed in an operation on June 25 in Krankshivan colony of Sopore. The LeT is active there," he said.

After attending a meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the situation in Kashmir, Chidambaram told a gathering of mediapersons that the government has asked the security forces to show maximum restraints while dealing with troublemakers.

Chidambaram further said that anti-national elements linked to terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba were trying to foment trouble in Sopore area of Kashmir.

The high level meeting on Kashmir was attended by Union home minister P Chidambaram, defence minister A K Antony and senior officials of his ministry, Prime Minister's Office and from security agencies.

The ministers took note of intelligence reports that suggested certain elements from Pakistan were trying to foment trouble in the Valley.

National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon also attended the meeting.

As the law and order situation worsened in the Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday clamped an indefinite curfew in south Kashmir towns of Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama while the restriction continued without any relaxation for the fifth day in Sopore and for the second day in Srinagar to curb widespread violence.