**Army raids suspected LeT compound in Kashmir **
By Tariq Naqash
Monday, 08 Dec, 2008 | 02:42 AM PST
**MUZAFFARABAD: An operation was launched by army personnel on the outskirts of the Azad Kashmir (AK) capital on Sunday, on a site housing some infrastructure currently used by Jamaat-ud-Dawa (Jud), an organisation headed by Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. **
**Sources said over 20 members of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), including its AK chief were arrested. The wanted LeT commander, Zakiur Rehman Lakhwi was also reportedly amongst those arrested. **
**
There were reports that such action has also been planned in major cities in the Punjab Province.
**
However, there was no official confirmation from the Interior Ministry or the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) on the crackdown, despite frequent requests by the media.
**
Local police and civil administration officials were completely in the dark about the operation and did not hide their ignorance in this regard.**
**
However, residents said that they saw army personnel taking control of the area along Shawai Nullah, some 5 kilometres northwest of Muzaffarabad, where JuD owns a sizeable piece of land and several buildings. **
**
Earlier, before being the ban was imposed, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), founded by Hafiz Saeed, occupied this area. **
**
‘I saw an army helicopter hovering over the area and later at around 5 pm I heard two to three loud bangs,’ a housewife told Dawn from the area by telephone. **
**
Another witness said: ‘The helicopter landed at one spot and may have airlifted the people detained or injured during the operation.’ There were unconfirmed reports of an exchange of fire between the two sides. **
**
The army personnel had also called ambulances from the city hospitals to the area, but witnesses said they returned without any casualties. **
**
According to witnesses, army personnel were also intercepting and checking public transport vehicles at Chehla Bandi, bound for the Neelum valley. **
**
A JuD official denied any knowledge of an operation against the organisation.
