Pulwama:23 men have been detained by the Indian security forces with suspected links to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), said a police officer.

JeM had claimed responsibility for the terror attacks that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel at Pulwama in south Kashmir.

These 23 men include members and sympathisers of the terror outfit. The attack is labeled as the deadliest attack on Indian Security forces in Kashmir.

While the nation is still in mourning at the loss of the CRPF personnel, the attack has only made matters worse. As reported earlier an encounter took place in the wee hours of Monday killing the commander and another man. While this brings a sigh of relief, the fact that the encounter took the lives of four more army personnel, only saddens the nation. India has sent a warning to Pakistan to stop supporting terror groups such as JeM and other Islamist groups that operate from its soil. Islamabad is in denial and refuses to acknowledge any involvement in the terror attack.

Reports say that the 23 detained people are being grilled by the National Investigation Agency(NIA) and questioned on the events that pan out on February 14.

"They are trying to reach out to the top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad, including its Kashmir Chief," one of the sources told the news agency.

One of the officials said that the commander of Jaish in Kashmir, Mohammed Umair, is believed to have plotted the attack and is still in hiding around the area of the attack.

Umair is the nephew of the JeM Chief Masood Azhar, and had made his way to Kashmir from Pakistan in September, only to lead the group in the valley. NIA accused Umair of radicalising and motivating Dar, the Kashmiri dropout who rammed an SUV loaded with explosives into a bus carrying at least 40 CRPF paramilitary troopers.

Meanwhile, India and Pakistan are ready to face it off at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Netherlands.

Also Read: Four Soldiers Killed In Encounter During Search Operations In Pulwama