Three militants among 4 killed, 37 grenades seized in J and K

Srinagar, Dec 15 (UNI) Three militants were among four people killed while security forces arrested an ultra involved in planting IEDs and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

Security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir police conducted a joint search operation at Thanala village in Bhaderwah area of Doda district in Jammu region this afternoon following a specific information.

During the operation, militants opened heavy fire on security forces, which was effectively retaliated. In the ensuing gun-battle, two militants belonging to the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen were killed, the spokesman said.

The slain ultras were identified as Abu Hafiz alias Hikmatyar and Shahid Ahmed, he said, adding a Sniper rifle with two magazines and one .303 rifle with two magazines were seized from their possession.

The spokesman said two militants barged into the house of Mishri Hussain at Sanglot in Poonch district last night and abducted his daughter Gulshan Akhtar on gun point.

On seeing this, brother of the girl raised a hue and cry, upon which the villagers came out of their houses along with axes and sticks and caught hold of the militants, the spokesman added.

While trying to escape, the militants shot dead the girl, the spokesman said, adding the locals later apprehended one of the ultras and killed him with sticks and axes.

The other militant, however, managed to escape, he said, adding an AK rifle of the slain militant was seized from the spot.

An army spokesman in Jammu said security forces today gunned down a militant who molested and killed a 24-year-old girl in Poonch district last night. An AK-56, an AK magazine, a pistol, a radio set and a huge quantity of ammunition were seized from him, he added.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir police today claimed to have arrested a suspected militant allegedly involved in planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Baramulla district.

On a tip off, police arrested Zahid Ahmad Dar alias Doctor, a resident of Seloo in Sopore area, from Baramulla today. Dar was allegedly involved in planting IEDs in Baramulla district, including one near St Joseph School, on June 15 this year, the police added.

In a major haul and first of its kind seizure in Jammu and Kashmir, the police today said they have recovered about 37 grenades, ten magazines and 300 rounds, concealed in a truck tyre, from river Jhelum at Sopore in north Kashmir.

They said a truck tyre was recovered from river Jhelum in Sopore area of Baramulla district this morning.

A thorough search of the tyre led to the discovery of 37 hand grenades, ten magazines and 300 rounds from it.

The police said two people, including the driver of a truck, bearing registration number PB10C-9588, have been arrested in this connection. The driver had been identified as Feroz Ahmed Dar and the second person as Ghulam Nabi Dar.

In another incident, the police said they seized Rs 1.5 lakh from the same area. They said the money was meant for militancy-related activities in the Kashmir valley.

The police said some arrests have been made in this connection.

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