Friday, September 23 2005 20:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A Jaish-e-Mohammad militant, the 'area commander' of the outfit in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir and wanted in connection with several attacks on security forces, was arrested by Delhi Police.

Khurshid Ahmed Butt alias Kamran alias Fayaaz (19) was arrested in Pampore in J and K on the basis of information provided by a man held last month in Delhi with 'hawala' money he was carrying for the Pakistan-based outfit.

Butt had been trained by Gazi Baba, the alleged mastermind of the assault on Parliament in December 2001, and also knew the men who carried out the attack, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Ajay Kumar told reporters today (Sept 23, 2005).

His father works in J and K Armed Police but he turned to militancy at the age of 15. He even ordered the killing of his sister when she objected to his activities, Kumar said.

Butt carried a reward of Rs one lakh on his head and when he was apprehended in Pampore, two days ago, by a team of policemen from Special Cell, he tried to attack them with a hand grenade.

"He had even taken out the pin from the grenade but our boys managed to catch him in time to put it back," Kumar said.

A pistol, cartridges, six hand grenades, a codebook and several identity cards of Jaish were recovered from him.

Butt was to receive Rs 10 lakh 'hawala' money from Aslam Wani who was arrested here on August 26 with Rs 63 lakh.

Wani had said Rs 50 lakh was to be paid to Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah.

Asked whether Shah would be questioned in this regard, the DCP merely said, "It is in the process."