Srinagar, October 6
Two persons, including a militant from PoK, were killed and six others wounded while ultras abducted a contractor in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, a police spokesman said today.

The police today claimed to have foiled a bid by Hizbul Mujahideen militants to target the national highway by planting deadly explosives at various places along the 300-km road.

The spokesman said militants hurled a grenade towards the security forces at the general bus stand at Batamaloo around 5 pm.

However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside resulting in the on-the-spot death of a civilian, identified as Firdous Ahmed Wani, a resident of Channapora, and injuries to six pedestrians, he added. The wounded have been hospitalised.

The spokesman said one militant was killed by the security forces in an encounter at Zainpora, Sopore, in Baramula district of north Kashmir early this morning.

The slain militant was identified as Mohammad Zair Bhat, a resident of Chik Bela in Hatiyar tehsil of Muzaffrabad district in PoK, he added. An AK rifle, two magazines, 68 rounds of ammunition and two grenades were seized from him.

Militants abducted a contractor, Abdul Ghani Wani, from his home at Shokbab Arin in the Bandipora area of Baramula district on the intervening night of October 5 and 6.

He said the Anantnag police busted a Hizbul Mujahideen module by arresting two militants who were planning to target the national highway by planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at various places along the route.

On a specific information, the police arrested two Hizb militants, Yasin Ahmad Dar and Dildar Ahmad, and seized 10 kg IED from them.

The spokesman said the two militants, along with their other associates, were planning to target the national highway.

The other two members of the module, Nazir Ahmad Dar and Mehraj Ahmed Dar, were absconding, he added.

The spokesman said this was done at the behest of Hizb divisional commander Suhail Faisal and district commander Tahir Bhat.

Meanwhile, at least 30 persons, including three CRPF personnel, were injured when the police fired in the air and burst teargas shells to disperse violent demonstrators in Srinagar.

Hundreds of people took to streets at Nowhatta immediately after Friday prayers were over in the historic Jamia Masjid. They were raising secessionist slogans. The agitators demanded the release of Mohammad Afzal Guru, the prime accused in the 2001 attack on Parliament.

The mob turned violent after the police tried to stop them from proceeding towards the main chowk.

A flying stone hit a CRPF constable in the head, forcing the police to fire teargas shells after lathicharge did not discourage the demonstrators.

Two more CRPF personnel also received injuries in the incident. A youth got burn injuries after one of the teargas shells hit him.

As the situation turned worse, the police fired in the air to disperse the agitators. — UNI

Srinagar, October 6
JKLF breakaway faction leader Javid Ahmad Mir was detained while Hurriyat Conference leader Zaffar Abdul Fatah was put under house arrest today to prevent them from taking out rallies supporting clemency for Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

Mir was detained along with four party activists when he tried to lead a march to protest the hanging of Afzal at Abi Guzar in the heart of the city.

Shouting slogans demanding revoking of the death sentence of Afzal, Mir along with party activists tried to march in procession in violation of prohibitory orders on the nearby residency road, officials said.

Meanwhile, a police team arrived at Fatah's residence, who is also the chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement, in the wee hours today and informed him about the restrictions on his movements outside his home for the day.

Fatah, who belongs to the moderate faction of the Hurriyat, had planned to take out rallies in support of commutation of death sentence of Guru. — PTI