Top HM commander, CPI(M) activist killed, 20 arrested in J

Srinagar, Jun 21 (UNI) A top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and an activist of Communist Party of India (M) were killed while security forces busted an underground hideout and arrested 20 suspected people in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said.

They said security forces and police, on a tip-off, conducted a search operation at village Tathakund Qazigund in south Kashmir late last night.

However, when the security forces were sealing the area, militants fired upon them with automatic weapons and also hurled grenades. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gun battle, a self- styled District Commander of HM Farooq Ahmad was killed.

An AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.

However, a spokesman of the HM confirming the death of Farooq, alleged he was arrested and later killed in custody by police.

He said Farooq had crossed over to Pakistan- occupied- Kashmir (PoK) in early 1990 and remained there for nine years. However, he returned here and was active in south Kashmir since 2000.

Police said unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade towards a bus, carrying Amarnath pilgrims from Baltal to Srinagar at 1230 hours.

Five pilgrims were injured in the blast, they said, adding the area has been cordoned off and a massive hunt launched to nab the militants.

The injured were admitted to hospital, police said adding three injured were identified as Vasu, Mukesh and Mahandroo Soni.

An eyewitness, who was also travelling in the same bus, told UNI that two Rajasthan buses carrying Amarnath pilgrims were on way to Srinagar from Baltal, when a hand grenade was lobbed towards the bus. The grenade exploded near the entrance, he added.

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