J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hizb ultra killed, another held in valley

Srinagar, March 26
A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed and a self-styled battalion commander arrested in separate operations, while a possible tragedy was averted with the timely detection of an IED in the Kashmir valley since last night, a police spokesman said today.

The militant was killed when he was caught in a shootout between militants and security forces at Baghat-e-Kanipora in Badgam district of central Kashmir last night, he said.

He said the ultra was arrested by the security forces and at his instance an AK rifle, two magazines and 60 cartridges were seized from an orchard at Baghat-e-Kanipora.

When the operation was on, the search party was fired upon by militants and in the retaliatory action, the ultra was killed. Two policemen were also injured in the incident.

Special operations group of the local police arrested a self-styled battalion commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Mohammad Altaf, alias Sikander from Wakura in the Ganderbal area on the outskirts of Srinagar today. A pistol, two rockets and some ammunition were seized from him.

Meanwhile, a possible tragedy was averted with the timely detection of a powerful improvised explosive device (IED), planted by militants on the Takiya-Pandach road in the city last night, he added. PTI