Troops foil militant plans to target election rallies in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 17 (UNI) Troops have foiled a militant plan to target election rallies in Kashmir when they arrested two militants, a defence spokesman said.

He said troops of 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Task Force of the Jammu and Kashmir police, based on information, intercepted a vehicle at village Dogulteng near Sopore in Baramula district of north Kashmir last night.

As the vehicle stopped one person tried to escape before the security forces could search it. However, after a long chase, he was arrested by the security forces.

He was later identified as Irshad Ahmed Shah, a local trained militant of Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

One wireless set and three hand grenades were recovered from his possession, he said adding Shah, during the on-the-spot questioning admitted that they have a plan to attack election rallies with hand grenades.

By-election is being held in three assembly constituencies-- Patan, Sangrama and Rafiabad in Baramulla district on April 24.

Army and police recently busted a JeM module when they arrested nine militants, responsible for the series of grenade blasts in Srinagar city that left five dead and about 42 others wounded on Saturday.

The spokesman said in another joint operation, 36 Rashtriya Rifles, 93 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force and Task Force Anantnag, apprehended a militant Javed Ahmad Bhat of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) alongwith one AK rifle, one magazine and eleven rounds of ammunition at Damhal Koshipora in south Kashmir.

UNI BAS PA RAI1433