Militant killed, body recovered, arms seized in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 7 (UNI) Security forces gunned down a militant while police recovered the mutilated body of an abducted person in the Kashmir valley since last evening, officials said today.

In a statement here, a defence spokesman said a joint operation was launched by 29 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the police at Sadpora village in Pattan area of Baramulla district last evening based on information regarding presence of militants there.

When the security personnel reached a particular place, the militants hurled a hand grenade towards them and followed it with heavy gunfire, he added.

The spokesman said the security forces effectively retaliated the fire, resulting in a fierce encounter. In the ensuing gun-battle, security forces killed a militant, he added.

The operation was in progress when reports last came in.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, quoting DIG Baramulla Dr B Srinivas, claimed to have killed two militants of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit in the gun-battle. One security personnel also sustained injuries in the gunfight, they added.

A police spokesman said the body of 55-year-old Gulzar Ahmad Khan, a resident of Sumbal Bala, Kangan in Ganderbal district, bearing violence marks was recovered from Rumi Bahak forest area.

Khan had gone missing from the area on November one. Police have registered a case in this regard, he added.

In another operation, the defence spokesman said troops of 22 RR and 2 PARA apprehended two militants from Shiu general area, about six km from Watlab, in Baramulla district.

They have been identified as Mohammad Shafi Rather alias Safa and Rupair Ahmed Rather alias Saba alias Mohuideen Kochlu alias Galvi.

Both the arrested militants belonged to the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfit, he said.

One Chinese pistol, one magazine, five rounds pistol ammunition, two Chinese hand grenades, one IED pressure cooker, two identity cards and one mobile set were seized from their possession, the spokesman added.

UNI