Top Lashker commander among 4 killed, major tragedy averted in J

Srinagar May 16(UNI) A top commander of Pakistan based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) and two other militants were among four people killed while security forces averted a major tragedy and also arrested 3 militants in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

An official spokesman said a militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Kathwali Dhok in Rajouri district of Jammu region today. The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants.

The slain militant was identified Saifullah, s self styled Divisional Commander of LeT. One AK rifle, two magzines, one wireless set and three hand grenades were recovered from the slain militant, he was wanted in a number of militancy related incidents.

Security forces and police also eliminated two militants of the same outfit in an encounter at Brail in the central Kashmir district of Badgam last night.

The slain militants were identified as Syed Mohammad Sartaj Shah alias Peer and Touseef Ahmad Wani alias Usman. Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

A police spokesman said Ganderbal Police recovered body of one Bashir Ahmad Laway at Shaidpora this morning.

A joint patrol party of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu and Kashmir police today averted a major tragedy when they detected a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants to target security forces at village Loktipora Bijbehara in south Kashmir.

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was summoned and the IED defused near the railway track without causing any damage.

He said police and '183 batallion' of CRPF apprehended one Over Ground Worker (OGW) Farooq Ahmad of JeM outfit during Naka checking at Murran Road, Pulwama.

Two detonators were recovered from him and he aided recovery of one Chinese hand grenade and ten rounds of ammunition from an orchard.

Security forces arrested two more militants Bilal Ahmad Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Bhat alongwith some arms and ammunition at Trehgam in the frontier district of Kupwara.

UNI