2 Lashker commanders, among 4 killed, in-filtration bid foiled in JK

Srinagar, Oct 4 (UNI) Two top commander of Pakistan based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) and their associate and two members of a family were killed and two others wounded in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

Security forces foiled an in-filtration bid when they arrested ten Kashmiri youths who were trying to cross over to Pakistan- Occupied-Kashmir (POK).

An official spokesman said Jammu and Kashmir police on a specific information conducted a search operation in village Gradwan Nad near Ashmuqam in south Kashmir district of Anantnag early this morning.

However, when the police personnel were sealing the area, militants attacked them with automatic weapons and hurled hand grenades. The fire was exchanged and in the fierce clash two foreign militants Abu Maaz alias Muzamil, chief operation commander and Abu Qasim Divisional operational commander of LeT were killed. Two AK rifles, three hand grenades, one pistol and some live rounds were recovered from the slain militants.

Two members of a family, including a woman, were killed and two others wounded when security forces opened fire due to mistaken identity late last night in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag.

Official sources said a security force patrol party noticed movement of some persons at midnight in a field at Ahlan adool village in Kokernag. When challenged, they tried to run away.

Security forces mistook them as militants and opened fire, resulting in on-the-spot death of two persons, including a woman.

The dead were identified as 25 year-old Misra and her 18- year- old brother Mohammad Ashraf Naikoo, children of Hashim Ali. Ali's son Abdul Karim and his wife Lateefa were injured, they said.

Thousands of people today took to streets at Kokernag in protest against the incident.

Demonstrators, demanding inquiry into the incident, alleged that security forces opened fire without any warning.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads.

A police spokesman said Handwara police arrested ten Kashmiri youths who were being taken to PoK for receiving arms training.

UNI BAS SY BD1831