Pak militant killed, Hizb commander arrested in J & K

Srinagar, Sep 17 (UNI) A militant was killed and five others including two security personnel injured while a Hizbul Mujahideen battalion commander was among six ultras arrested in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

An encounter took place between Security forces and militants at village Gundha, under Budhal police station during which one militant identified as Abu Azad alias Gafari, a Pak national, was killed last evening.

One AK rifle, three magazines, 90 rounds, one hand grenade, three mobile phones and Rupees 1550, were recovered from his possession.

Three civilians and two security force jawans were injured in a shootout between militants and security forces at Sopore,in north Kashmir district of Baramulla this afternoon.

Official sources said Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) launched a joint search operation at Machipora, Sopore, at 1200 hours.

However, when the area was being sealed, militants opened fire, which was retaliated by the force. In the ensuing gun battle, three civilians were injured.

The sources said two security jawans also received injuries in the exchange of fire.

The militants, however, managed to escape they said adding that later security forces conducted searches in the area for about three hours with no arrest.

Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants, including a self styled Battalion Commander in the frontier district of Kupwara today.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Kupwara, Vijay Kumar said two huzbul Mujahideen militants were arrested by police after receiving information about their presence at Nutnusa today.

He identified the arrested militants as Irshad Ahmad Lone alias Khursheed alias Bilal and Tariq Ahmad Shah.

The SP said Irshad was a self styled Battalion Commander of the hizb and was active in Sopore-Baramulla for the past several year.

A listed militant, he was involved in killings of civilians and Police personnel in north Kashmir.

Terming their arrests as a big success Mr Kumar said that one pistol, one magazine, five rounds, one mobile phone and two hand grenades were recovered from their possession.

Jammu and Kashmir police has foiled a Lashkar-e-Toiba plan to carry out series of blasts in the state.

The police foiled the plan after they arrested four Lashker- e-Toiba (LeT) ultras alongwith 20 hand grenades and UBGLs in north Kshmir.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Baramulla, Vijay Kumar said, police raided Sopore on a specific information and arrested LeT militant Nisar Ahmad Dar alias Sajid.

Later, three other Over ground Workers (OGW) of LeT, Abdul Hamid Shah alias Hassan, Mushtaq Ahmad Changa alias Shahid and Muzaffar Ahmad Saboon alias Zubair were arrested alongwith 11 hand grenades and nine UBGL grenades.

The grenades and UBGLs would have been used to target security forces and others.

The militants were working as carriers, for carrying arms and ammunition and were facilitating shifting of top ranking militants from one place to another.

Mr Kuamr said the grenades, which were recovered from them bear the same series number as that of used in the Sopore attack.

He also said Abdul Hamid Shah was responsible for helping militants to carry out ambush on Army convoy at Sopore on June 15 this year.

UNI