Militants do not want people to visit shrines: J

Srinagar, Aug 30 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen militant who was tasked to lob a grenade at a busy market when the people, in large numbers, were on their way to the historic Hazratbal shrine, housing the holy relic of the Prophet Mohammad, on August 25.

Addressing a news conference here, state Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Sharma said the police on August 25 arrested a Hizb militant, Naseer Ahmed, on a specific information by a civilian while he was going to lob a grenade in a busy market here at a time when the people were on their way to pay obeisance at the Hazratbal shrine on the occasion of Friday following 'Mehraj-i-Aalam'.

The grenade was also seized from him in time before he could cause large-scale devastation, he added.

Mr Sharma said the civilian who provided the information has been given a reward of Rs one lakh.

The DGP said the series of grenade blasts carried out by the militants on April 14 on the occasion of Friday following 'Eid-ul-MIlad-un Nabi' and on the Amarnath pilgrims under the orders of their masters across the border, indicate that the ultras do not want the people to visit shrines such as Hazratbal.

UNI AG VD VC1750