3 Hizb ultras among 4 killed, arms seized in J

Srinagar, May 13 (UNI) Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were among four people killed while security forces arrested three ultras and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, an official spokesman said today.

Security forces launched a combing and search operation at Lancha Gool in Reasi district of Jammu region today.

During the operation, militants attacked the search party with automatic weapons. The gunfire was effectively retaliated and in the ensuing fierce gun-battle, two local Hizb militants were killed.

The slain militants were identified as Ashraf and Makhna, the spokesman said, adding two AK assault rifles and six magazines were seized from the encounter site.

Another Hizb militant, Mohammad Amin alias Jehangir, was killed during an encounter at Bhatta Bridge in Marwah area of Kishtwar district early today. An AK rifle, two magazines and 51 rounds were seized from his possession, the spokesman said.

A selection-grade constable, Ramesh Singh, died in the Kashmir University campus due to a cardiac arrest. The deceased was a personal security officer of the Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor.

Security forces arrested an overground worker of militants at Shah Nagri village in frontier district of Kupwara last evening.

Police and 6 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) arrested two Pakistani militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) from Daril forests in Vilgam.

They were identified as Akther Saleem, a resident of Lahore, and Mohammad Yaseen, a resident of Sialkot. Two AK 56 rifles, four magazines, 120 rounds of ammunition, one wireless set with antenna, two hand grenades and two UBGLs were seized from their possession.

In a search operation following an encounter at Sangran Pati Warsun and Dard Hari, security forces seized four AK 47 rifles, 12 magazines, 249 rounds of ammunition and two hand grenades.

One AK 47 rifle, four magazines, 120 rounds of ammunition and one pouch were seized from the possession of Bilal Ahmad Mir, a resident of Nizampora in Kangan area.

Acting on specific information, police conducted search of the house of Bashir Ahmad Khan at Paridar in Kokernag area. During the search, police seized one UBGL, 14 UBGL shells, two IED circuits, four batteries, one wireless set, three anti-personnel mines, 250 rounds of AK 47 ammunition and two detonators.

Farmers at Telgam Payeen village of Kupwara district in north Kashmir were taken by a surprise after they found a live mortar shell in an open field. The bomb disposal squad of the police later destroyed the shell.

UNI