3 killed, infiltration bid foiled, six HM ultras arrested in J and K

Srinagar, Mar 20 (UNI) Security forces gunned down two militants, foiled an infiltration bid and arrested six Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) ultras in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said.

They said militants fired upon a group of 12 villagers in Koladab chowk jungle in Rajouri district last night resulting in the on the spot death of one Naseeb Singh. However, others, who had gone there to collect wood, escaped unhurt.

They said a security force patrol party was fired upon by militants at Shah Nagri Handwara. Troops immediately sealed the entire area and returned the fire and in the two-hour gun battle two militants were killed. Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Alert security forces guarding the border noticed a group of three to four militants infiltration into this side at Chajja Man post late last night. When challanged and asked to surrender, militants opened fire. Security forces also returned the fire and the exchange continued for some time. However, militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

Troops of the 52 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police smashed a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) module responsible for causing car bomb blasts in the city, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Five HM militants were arrested when they were preparing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Batmaloo area of the city, the spokesman told UNI.

He said, based on a specific information troops of 52 RR and SOG launched a targeted operation in Batmaloo area of the uptown early this morning.

He said during the operation troops arrested one Ajaz Ahmad Bhat alias Babloo when he was making an IED, which would have been later fitted in a car for targeting security forces and politicians.

Later, interrogation of Babloo led to the arrest of four more HM militants from different places. The group was active in the Srinagar for the past some time.

He said the five HM militants confessed that they were making IEDs and to later plant them in stolen cars to cause blasts at different places.

The militants admitted to have planted Ieds at Batmaloo, Bemina and Idgah, which were later defused by the security forces, he said.

Describing it a major success, the spokesman said it will help to reach the militants who had caused IED blast at Rawalpora that left nine soldiers and a woman injured on Saturday.

Another HM militant was arrested from Keller Pulwam alongwith two hand grenades last night.

UNI BAS SC KP1856