PTI
 
Srinagar, Aug 23: The Army claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough in the Mumbai serial blast case by arresting a top Pakistani militant from South Kashmir on Tuesday morning.

A Defence spokesperson said troops of 3 Para (SF) noticed a person moving in suspicious manner in Nandmarg forest near Shopian in Kulgam area of South Kashmir at about 3:30 a.m. He was asked to surrender and later arrested by the troops.

On sustained interrogation, the spokesperson said the person had revealed his identity as Tohfeen Akmal Hashmi alias Abu Ahmad, a Pakistani militant. The spokesperson said Hashmi was the divisional commander of Al-Badr militant outfit in Jammu and Udhampur areas.

He said Hashmi had admitted to knowing the perpetrators of July 11 Mumbai serial blasts in which about 200 persons were killed and about 800 injured.

Hashmi revealed that 17 militants had been asked to carry out the blasts in India's commercial capital. While 16 ultras returned safe, one was killed in the blast, Hashmi said.

The spokesperson said Hashmi had been handed over to Kulgam police.