M A I N   N E W S

Four killed; blast averted

Srinagar, April 1
Four persons, including two militants, were killed, and two ultras arrested in the Kashmir valley, where police averted a tragedy with the detection of a grenade in Anantnag today, an official spokesman said here.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in retaliatory fire when he shot at an ambush party of the BSF and police at Pinglish in Pulwama district today. A pistol, two magazines and eight rounds were recovered from him, the spokesman said.

A foreign mercenary, Abu Hurrara, of Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit was killed in an encounter at Sodal village in Kupwara district last night.

Elsewhere, militants shot dead a surrendered ultra near his village at Donipora-Sheerpora in Baramula district, the spokesman said, adding another released militant was killed by militants at Gothpora in Badgam district.

Meanwhile, security forces detected a live grenade at the busy Mehendi Kadal area of Anantnag district this morning, averting a tragedy.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was arrested by security forces yesterday and three AK assault rifles were seized from him, he said, adding securitymen also arrested a militant from the Sallar area of Anantnag and seized two grenades from him.

JAMMU: Three hardcore militants, including a self-styled section commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, were killed in gunbattles with security forces in Jammu region since last evening, a defence spokesman said here on Sunday.

Ultras fired on army troops patrolling the Gundoh area of Doda district, forcing them to return the fire in which a militant was killed.

The slain militant, identified as Farooq Khan, was a self-styled section commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad. PTI