3 smugglers arrested in Jammu

Jammu, Feb 11 (PTI) Police have arrested three smugglersfor suspected links with the militants killed in the Chinoreencounter and smuggling of narcotics from across the border.

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a Santro car andarrested three notorious smugglers - Purshotam Kumar, GurmeetSingh alias Raju and Ashok Kumar alias Faiju at Domana area ofJammu city last night.

The trio were on their way to strike a deal for trans-border smuggling with Mangal Dass and get some heroin packetsfrom him, police said.

The arrested have also revealed about their involvementin facilitating three militants to cross over to this side forthe Chinore attack.

The militants were later killed along with six personsin a fierce gunbattle in Chinore area of Jammu city on August26, 2007.

The militants were in constant touch with the smugglerson phone and call details have pointed towards it, policesaid, adding that the trio have been sent to jointinterrogation centre for getting further details.