Nepali Maoist Arrested Has Links With Laskar -E-Toiba, Says Indian Army

Nepali Maoist Arrested Has Links With Laskar -E-Toiba, Says Indian Army

Update 2007-02-26

Well, maybe we are victims of Indian Army manipulation:


Indian Army claim on Maoist-Lashkar nexus fictitious: Indian media

By Special Correspondent

KATHMANDU, Feb 23 - The Indian media quoting investigators on Friday ruled out the Indian Army's claim that a Nepali national, Pasang Lama, who was arrested in Kashmir 10 days ago, was a Maoist and that he had a nexus with the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba.

The Indian police had detained Lama on Feb 13 from Baramulla, Kashmir and had claimed that Lama was a member of the CPN-M and that he was trading weapons with the terrorist group Lashkar.

The Indian media today stated that Lama was neither a Maoist nor was he in Kashmir for the alleged arms deal.

"The claim (by the Indian Army) is not true. There was no deal at all. We have asked local police to reassess the case filed against him (Lama)," reported Hindustan Times, one of the top English dailies in India, in its Friday's edition quoting a security personnel involved in the investigation.

The Maoists have already dismissed the Indian Army claim.

Spokesperson of the Indian Army, Lt Col VK Mathur had said on Feb 13 that Lama was arrested by the Indian police along with Md Yunus, a member of the banned terrorist group Lashkar. Mathur had also mentioned that Lama, when nabbed, was making an arms deal equivalent of IRs five hundred thousand.

Lama was immediately sent to judicial detention.

In the investigation report, Lama has been described as a businessman dealing in Pashmina raw materials. The report also added that Lama exports the raw material to businessmen in Kashmir.

Lama was reported to have told the investigators that he was asked to accept an AK-47 rifle instead of his outstanding cash, which Lama rejected.

When he was arrested, the Indian Army however was not in a position to verify his involvement with the Nepali Maoists and the Maoists in Nepal had ruled out the claim laid by the Indian Army. Nonetheless, the Indian Army is still maintaining its claim that Lama is a Maoist and has links with Lashkar.

Mathur said, "Criminals never admit their crimes. We did not find any weapon on him but he has confessed that he came to make an arms deal."

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Or the story is true, what would Nepali have to sell in Kashmir? Pasmina means Kashmere - that's were the word originated! So this is preposterous, just an excuse?