India condemns release of Mumbai terror attack 'mastermind' Hafiz Saeed

India on Thursday condemned the decision of a Pakistan court to release from house arrest Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding attacks on Mumbai in 2008 in which 166 people were killed.

Saeed, co-founder of dreaded militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a banned organisation in both India and the United States (US), was put under house arrest in January after years of living freely in Pakistan, one of the sore points in its fraying relationship with the US and India.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said that the country is outraged that a



self-confessed and a United Nations proscribed terrorist was allowed to walk free and continue with his evil agenda while adding that it showcases Pakistan's 'lack of seriousness' in handling issues concerning militancy on its soil.

Meanwhile, anti-Pakistan protest erupted in parts of India to protest the release of Saeed.

India accused Pakistan of sponsoring the attacks through the LeT, which Saeed founded in the 1990s.

Pakistan has denied any state involvement in the attack. It placed the LeT on a list of banned organizations in 2002.