2 Al-Badr commanders arrested in Kashmir

Srinagar Apr 10 (UNI) Two top militants, including a self-styled district Commander of Al-Badr militant outfit, were arrested in south Kashmir today, a senior police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Pulwama said a tip off was received a group of militants was planning to leave the country on some ''important mission'' from the district.

Immediately police teams were rushed to different villages to arrest the militants before they could leave the valley and country, he said.

The SSP said in the early hours, a vehicle was stopped near a stand at Shopian and two militants identifed as Mohammed Ishaq Pala alias Umar alias Imran alias Bsalan and Muzaffar Ahmed Malik alias Zubair were arrested.

One passport, two fake identity cards and some incriminating documents were recovered from their possession.

He said Pala was the self-styled Al-Badr 'District Commander' wanted in number of subversive activities including civilian killings and extortion in south Kashmir.

The SSP said Malik was an ''A'' category dreaded militant involved in a number of militancy related incidents including IED blasts, civilian killings and extortion in Yaripora, Shopian and Bijbehara areas.

The militants were also involved in recruiting innocent youths and later sending them to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) for receiving arms training.

UNI