Rift between LeT's Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi; terrorists planning to assassinate separatists in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Kashmir operations in-charge Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi have fallen out with each other, a report said on Monday.

According to intelligence inputs received by Indian security establishment, terrorist outfits are planning to assassinate separatist leaders to stir unrest in the Valley, said Hindustan Times.

The LeT has also taken a decision not to use its own name in future attacks in India and issue press releases in the name of ‘Quit Kashmir Movement’ in a bid to give an impression of the involvement of “indigenous groups”, reported the daily.

The LeT leadership has decided to “not use its name in its actions in Kashmir and actions will be given more and more colour of being carried out indigenously by the indigenous groups”, the intelligence documents read.

“Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi has got certain issues with Hafiz Saeed, who is presently under detention. Reportedly, Lakhvi has shifted most of his loyalists to PoK. Inputs reveal that Lashkar has decided to not use its name in its actions in Kashmir,” said the intelligence documents.

When asked what could have caused a rift between Saeed and Lakhvi, a security official said: “Reasons are unknown to us so far.”

“Inputs further reveal that Tehreek-e-Mujahideen has been revived and Bilpapa who was earlier in Central Jail in Moulana Showkat murder case and is presently on bail has been instrumental in reviving a group of TeM. This group may plan to target any separatist leader to bring the situation in the Valley to a flashpoint.”

Notably, the TeM had disowned Javed Munshi alias Bilpapa after the killing of cleric-politician Maulana Shaukat Shah in 2011.