Srinagar, August 13
With Independence Day just 36 hours away the militants struck in a big way triggering four blasts in Kashmir killing two persons and injuring 50 today.

A Company Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen was apprehended and a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered during the search operations.

A pedestrian was killed and 40 persons, including five BSF jawans, were injured when militants detonated an improvised explosive device in the main market of Bandipora town in Baramulla district this afternoon. The blast took place near RK Hotel at about 12.30 p.m. One of the six seriously injured persons, Mohammad Yaseen Shah, succumbed to his injuries in the SMHS hospital here.

Seven pedestrians were injured, two of them seriously, when suspected militants lobbed a grenade towards a security force vehicle at Koimoh, Kulgam in Anantnag district at 12.20 this afternoon. The two seriously injured have been shifted for treatment to Srinagar. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the road causing injuries to civilians.

An explosion took place on the premises of Flood Control and Irrigation Department at Khwajabagh, Baramula, this afternoon. However, no damage was caused.

Militants detonated an IED at Ajav village in Bandipora, but there were no casualties.

Two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed and three security force personnel were injured in an encounter at Kangloora, Tral in Pulwama district of south Kashmir today. The two militants were identified as Mohammad Altaf Wani and Fayaz Sheikh.

One person was injured in an exchange of fire between militants and security forces at Batapora, Shopian in Pulwama district this morning. The encounter ensued when security force personnel intercepted a motor cycle carrying militants. The pillion riders opened fire leading to the retaliation, in which a pedestrian was seriously injured. He has been shifted to the hospital here. The militants managed to escape.

Army troops killed two heavily-armed militants believed to be Pakistani infiltrators in an encounter at Tandapani near the Line of Control in Trehgam belt of Kupwara district, an official spokesman said. Two AK assault rifles, seven magazines, 150 rounds, 90 anti-personnel mines, one sealed box of AK ammunition and five hand grenades were recovered from them.

He said security forces killed two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, Mohammad Altaf Wani and Fayaz Sheikh, during search operations at Kangloora in Tral area of Pulwama district. Three security personnel were also injured in the encounter.

However, villagers claimed that Fayaz was an innocent person not affiliated with any militant outfit.