Jaish refutes Army, Police claim of arrests

Srinagar, Apr 17 (UNI) The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has refuted the claims of the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police of busting the outfit's module by arresting nine militants on Friday.

In a statement to a local news agency here, a Jaish spokesman said the nine people arrested have no association with the outfit.

''The police have arrested civilians and then branded them as militants,'' he added.

The spokesman said the Jaish militants hurled only two grenades in Bohri Kadal and Saki Dafar areas in the downtown city on April 14 ''in which troops suffered casualties''.

''We disassociate ourselves from other grenade attacks on Friday.

We also appeal to the people to stay away from bunkers and security installations as attacks against them would continue,'' he added.

Five people were killed and 42 others wounded in seven grenade explosions in the Srinagar city on April 14.

The Army and the Police later claimed to have arrested nine militants of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad responsible for the blasts.

UNI AG YA VC1354