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Press Trust of India
Last Updated : Feb 20 2013 | 1:10 PM IST
The LeJ further demanded that all its detained members should be moved from the high-security Anti Terrorism Force (ATF) Jail within Quetta cantonment to a Central Jail in the provincial capital. Siddiq warned that if this was not done, the LeJ would lunch a suicide attack on the ATF Jail. Persons charged with involvement in terrorist activities are held in the ATF Jail. Most of the prisoners there are Baloch nationalists or LeJ militants. Over two dozen of about 50 LeJ members who are being tried in Quetta are currently at the ATF Jail. In January 2008, Usman Kurd, the LeJ chief in Balochistan, and his deputy Dawood Badini escaped under mysterious circumstances from the ATF Jail. The duo now spearheads the attacks on Shia Hazaras. Senior police officials said the LeJ wants its members to be moved from ATF Jail because authorities have made fool proof security arrangements there since the January 2008 jailbreak. Compared to the ATF Jail, which is exclusively meant for hardcore terrorists, the Central Jail is less secure. LeJ spokesman Siddiq had also claimed responsibility for the January 10 twin suicide bombings that killed 92 Shia Hazaras. At that time, he had warned Hazaras to leave Balochistan or face severe consequences. "Many of the Hazara enemies had fled but there were those who decided to stay back as they loved their jobs and properties. The Lashkar will not allow any of these Hazaras to leave Balochistan alive," he had said at the time.

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First Published: Feb 20 2013 | 1:10 PM IST

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