One killed, 8 arrested, major tragedy averted in J

Srinagar, Oct 9 (UNI) Militants killed a contractor while security forces averted a major tragedy even as eight ultras were apprehended in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

A militant of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammd (JeM) surrendered before the security forces at Bucher Post on the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir district of Baramulla along with one pistol, one magazine and five rounds last evening.

He said militants kidnapped a contractor, Bashir Ahmad Wani, at Sumblar, Bandipora, in north Kashmir on October 4. Wani's body was recovered from the nearby fields this morning.

Security forces apprehended two militants each from Sopore and Bandipora areas in Baramulla district and seized six hand grenades, one wireless set, two remote controls, one battery, fake currency worth Rs 100, one kg RDX and one IED with switch last evening.

The Jammu and Kashmir police also arrested three people here and seized 13 AK rounds, one pistol, one magazine, two rounds, one rifle grenade and Rs two lakh from them while a Harkat-Ul-Jehadi-e-Islami (HUJI) activist was nabbed along with a hand grenade during a search operation in Bharti Kakoo area in Doda district of Jammu region.

Security forces today detected a 20 kg powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Doda. It was later defused by the bomb disposal squad.

UNI BAS VD KN1849