Militant plan to kill bypoll candidates in Kashmir foiled

Srinagar, Apr 20 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir police has claimed to have unearthed a militant plan to kill candidates contesting by-election,s in three assembly constituencies in Baramulla district through a ''contract killer''.

The alleged contract killer Shabir Ahmad Najar, a zonal president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a partner in the coalition government in the state, has been arrested.

However, police denied to have arrested Javid Ahmad Dar, district president of the PDP as reported by media.

Official sources said Najar's name figured during the questioning of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants arrested by police and security forces in north Kashmir last week.

The militants during the interrogation had said that Najar had received money from Hizb to kill the PDP candidates Mohammad Dilawar Mir, Javid Ahmad Baig and National Conference (NC) candidate Mohammad Maqbool Mir and Shoib Lone, contesting the bypoll, scheduled to be held on April 24.

Sources said police parties were rushed to different areas and Najar was arrested last evening.

Najar had reportedly confessed to have received the money to kill the candidates.

This could not be confirmed officially as no senior police officer was available.

Bypoll in three assembly constituencies of Rafiabad, Sangrama and Pattan will be held on April 24.

However, a senior police officer at Baramulla denied media reports that PDP district president Javid Ahmad Dar was arrested.

He said the reports are totally baseless and false''.

A spokesman of the PDP said the news reports about the Dar's arrest were motivated to create confusion among the party supporters.

He said Dar is a dedicated and respectable leader of the party.

UNI BAS YA VC1205