3 killed, top commander arrested, war-like stores recovered in J

Srinagar, Aug 3 (UNI) Three persons, including two militants, were killed and 24 others injured even as security forces arrested a top commander, busted a hideout and recovered war like stores in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said.

He said militants shot at and critically wounded one Farooq Ahmad Dar at Kulgam, in south Kashmir last night. He was admitted to a hospital where he died.

Two militants were killed in a mine blast at Buchhu forest in south Kashmir and several others were wounded. However, the injured militants managed to escape before security forces could reach the spot.

He said militants hurled a hand grenade and fired on a patrol party at village Dharam in Udhampur district of Jammu region last night. Security forces also retaliated and in the encounter four security personnel were injured who were later hospitalised.

Militants later managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

The spokesman said 20 persons were injured in a hand grenade blast at general bus stand Surankote. The injured were admitted to different hospitals.

Security forces arrested a divisional commander of Harkat-ul- Mujahideen (HuM) alongwith arms and ammunition at Doda last evening.

He said security forces launched a search operation following a tip off that militants had stored a large cache of arms and ammunition in a hideout, constructed underground at Satpukhar Nag in south Kashmir district of Pulwama late last night..

The arms and ammunition recovered included one rocket launcher, one RPG, one UBGL, one AK rifle, 7 magazines, two grenades, one grenade launcher, one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), one IED receiver, four mobile charges and one wireless set.

The forces also recovered four gas cylinder, one solar light, about two quintals of rice, kerosene oil, petrol, 10 kg pulses, 20 kg sugar, 3 kg lipton tea, 8 dozen candles, 6 kg milk powder, three pressure cooker, one plastic water tank and other items.

However, no one was arrested, he said.

UNI BAS PA KN1910