Pak national among 2 Al Badr militants, soldier killed in J

Srinagar/Jammu, Jun 3 (UNI) A Pakistani national and Al Badr's chief coordinator was among the two militants killed and a soldier gunned down his colleague while security forces seized 100 kg explosive in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, officials said today.

A defence spokesman said personnel of 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Jammu and Kashmir police launched a search operation following specific information by 162 Infantry Battalion (TA) (Home and Hearth) that some militants were hiding at Wuyan village in Khrew, Pampore area of Pulwama district this morning.

As the troops were conducting searches, militants hiding in the house of Mohammad Yousuf Bhat fired upon them with automatic weapons. The fire was effectively returned and in the ensuing gunfight, two militants of Al Badr outfit were killed.

The slain militants were identified as Syed Dawood Shah alias Tahir Shah from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in Pakistan and Abdul Rashid Bhat alias Gani Driver of Khrew Pampore, he added.

Shah was Al Badr's chief coordinator in Kashmir. Two Ak-47 rifles, seven magazines, 119 rounds of ammunition and two radio sets ICOM with one antenna were seized from the site of encounter site, the spokesman added.

He said Shah's killing was a major blow to Al Badr and would force the militants to go on a back foot.

In Jammu, a soldier shot dead his colleague at Bhimbar Gali in Rajouri district last night, official sources said.

An altercation broke out between Lance Naik Harnam Singh of 13 Sikh Light Infantry battalion and his junior. The Lance Naik then took out his service weapon and killed his colleague. He was later arrested and an inquiry ordered into the incident.

Troops of 30 RR apprehended a Hizb Over Ground Worker (OGW), identified as Azad Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Shatgund Payeen, at Hangah in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

Two UBGL grenades were seized from the possession of Bhat who was an associate of a dreaded Hizb militant, Mushtaq Ahmad Malla.

Police destroyed a militant hideout in Guzrial Forests of Trehgam area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir. Some blankets and utensils were seized from the hideout.

The spokesman said 5 RR troops conducted a search operation based on specific information in Kaubagh general area near Ganderbal yesterday. During the search, troops seized a large cache of arms and ammunition hidden in an open field and camouflaged with foliage.

The seizure included 100 kg of explosive, 10 hand grenades, UBGL grenades, detonators and 217 rounds of AK ammunition, he added.

UNI