Two JEM militants among three killed, tragedy averted in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 29 (UNI) Three persons including a self-styled commander of Jaishe-e-Mohammad (JEM) outfit and his associate were killed while a major tragedy was averted by CRPF with timely recovery of a grenade from a crowded bus stand in Kashmir valley today.

The JEM commander Abdul Gani Dar and his unidentified associate were killed in an encounter with a joint search party of Police and Rashtriya Rifles at Drbgam in Pulwama district this evening, official sources said.

A residential house where the militants were hiding was razed to ground during the gunfight which lasted several hours, the sources said adding the search operation in the area was still continuing as police had information about presence of another militant there.

In another operation, the sources said SOG arrested a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit Bashir Ahmad Laway during a naka checking at Kadlabal Nambal, Awantipora in Pulwama district and recovered a pistol and five rounds from him.

Militants shot dead 40-year-old Mohammad Shabir inside his house at Mustandara in Surankote area of Poonch district this morning, the sources said.

A CRPF spokesman said a major tragedy was averted when the personnel of the force recovered a live grenade from crowded Batmaloo bus stand in the central Srinagar this afternoon.

The grenade wrapped in polythene bag was found near overhead tank on the rear side of the general bus stand during the course of the search operation launched following specific information that suspected militants are planning a grenade attack, the spokesman said.

He said some persons were questioned but no one was arrested during the operation.

UNI