Militant killed, major tragedy averted in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 12 (UNI) Security forces killed a militant while a major tragedy was averted in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

On a specific information, he said security forces launched a search operation at Wadarbala village in Handwara area of Kupwara district last evening.

When troops were searching the area, militants opened fire on them with automatic weapons. The fire was retaliated and in the ensuing gun-battle, one militant was killed, the spokesman said.

He said a pistol along with a magazine and ten rounds were seized from his possession.

A major tragedy was averted today when a road opening party of the Jammu and Kashmir police and security forces noticed a 5-kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Hamzapora in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir.

Traffic on the national highway was stopped for some time before a bomb disposal squad defused it.

Security forces also seized an IED fitted in a pressure cooker from the cowshed of Ali Mohammad Tantray at Palpora in Magam area of Kupwara district last night.

The house owner was being questioned, the spokesman said.

UNI