2 militants killed, mine near masjid defused, arms recovered in J

Srinagar, Jun 14 (UNI) Two militants were killed while security forces averted a major tragedy and also recovered war like stores in Jammu and Kahsmir overnight.

Official sources said that during a search operation at Arin Bandipora, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir district of Kupwara this afternoon, a militant was killed by security forces One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.

Body of an Al-Badr militant Nazir Ahmad Naikoo was recovered at Harmain Shopian in south Kashmir. He was reportedly killed in an inter- group clash.

Security forces today averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by militants near a wall of Jamia Masjid at Ashtangam in Kishtwar district of Jammu region.

Had it not been defused, it would have caused major damage to the masjid, official spokesman said.

In another incident, police today recovered 17 hand grenades and one launcher shell from a garbage dump at Gasi Mohalla at Safa Kadal in the down town city. However, no one was arrested.

Security forces also recovered one AK rifle, three magazines, 263 rounds of ammunition, one UBGL, one RPG rocket with 35 grenades and one telescope at Drugmulla in the frontier district of Kupwara last night.

UNI