LeT commander arrested, one killed, IEDs recovered in J

Srinagar, Feb 17 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir police today arrested a top commander of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT), while one militant surrendered in South Kashmir.

Else where A body was recovered from Batmaloo this morning.

Acting on a tip-off, a police spokesperson told UNI, police conducted a search operation and arrested LeT District Commander Mohammad Shafi Chouhan alias Moulvi from a hideout in village Khilan near Pahalgam, about 100 km from the district Anantnag here today.

He said arms and ammunition recovered included two AK rifles, five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 15 kg of explosive, ten detonators, five magzines, 2530 rounds of ammunition, three Anti Personnel Mines (APM) five UBGL grenades, two stick grenades, one grenade thrower and five hand grenades.

The Spokesman said the LeT commander, had been active in the area for past few years, and was wanted in several militancy-related incidents in south Kashmir.

He said it was a big success for the police but a major setback to militants.

People in south Kashmir foiled an attempt, by unidentified gunmen, to loot a villager in Kulgam area late last night, official sources said today.

They said gunmen waylaid the one Abdul Ahad Bhat at village Churnoo, Kulgam, in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag late last night and demanded Rs two lakh.

However, he raised the alarm and drew the attention of other neighbours.

The gunmen escaped after firing some shots in the air, the sources said, adding no one was injured.

The spokesman said one militant surrendered along with two AK rifles, eight magzines, 2000 rounds of ammunition, ten hand grenades, 30 detonators and one rocket at Anantnag last evening.

UNI