JK Police identifies militants responsible for Kulgam blast

Srinagar, July 9 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough in identifying the militants responsible for attacking a National Conference (NC) rally in Kulgam yesterday in which five people were killed and 50 others wounded.

An official spokesman said police have also announced a reward of Rs one lakh to anyone providing clues leading to the arrest of the militants who threw a grenade on the rally of NC MLC Sakina Ittoo near a shrine at Kulgam yesterday.

He said police identified the militants and the mastermind of the ''dastardly act'' after sustained investigations into the incident.

The militants identified are Reyaz Ahmed Bhat alias Aftab, Fayaz Ahmed alias Hamza and Makeen Ahmed alias Samiullah, he added.

The spokesman said Reyaz, the battalion commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, had killed his own brother-in-law, Parvez Ahmad, a resident of Larnoo, on June 14 this year.

He said a massive manhunt has been launched by police to nab the militants responsible for this ''heinous act''.

The spokesman said police have also announced a cash reward of Rs one lakh to anyone providing vital information leading to the arrest of the militants. ''The identity of the person will be kept secret and the information can be given to a nearest police station or any police officer of the area,'' he added.

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