Four infiltrators killed, one held in Kashmir

Four militants have been killed and one apprehended in an ongoing operation in the frontier district of Kupwara on Tuesday.

Soldiers had launched a search operation to flush out militants two days ago near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district. File photo

Four militants have been killed and one apprehended in an ongoing operation in the frontier district of Kupwara on Tuesday.

An Army spokesman said soldiers had launched a search operation to flush out militants two days ago near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district.

“After two days, contact was established. During the ensuing gunfight, four militants were killed while one militant was apprehended,” said the Army spokesman.

The Army said the militant group was intercepted close to the anti-insurgency obstacle system (AIOS) after a suspicious movement was noticed. “The Army maintained a tight cordon around the forest area for the whole night to ensure that the militants don’t escape from the area,” said the spokesman.

All the slain militants are believed to be foreigners.

Big success: Rijiju

In New Delhi, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju described the militant’s arrest as a “big success.” “Catching a militant alive is a big success as it brings into the open the game plan of Pakistan. The arrest is a big achievement for the security forces,” the Minister told reporters there.

Fresh clashes

Fresh clashes broke out in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday leaving one civilian dead and 17 injured after the government lifted curfew in eight of 10 districts for the first time in 17 days.

Demonstrators refused to heed separatist leaders who had called for a relaxation in shutdown hours from 2 p.m., and advised people to resume their normal routine and stock up on essentials.

As soon as restrictions were removed, hundreds poured into the streets across the old city.

Demonstrators blocked roads using burning tyres, barricaded streets with iron poles, and clashed with security personnel who were withdrawing from volatile areas such as Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Nawakadal, Khanyar and Hawal.

Locals also defied curfew in Anantnag and Pulwama districts and clashed with security forces. Eight persons, including a girl, sustained pellet injuries.

The spontaneous protests pose fresh challenge to security forces as demonstrators no more heed requests made by the separatists. The separatists later released a joint statement hinting at prolonged street agitation.

The blockade on mobile telephony for post-paid customers was lifted on Tuesday night.A police spokesman in Srinagar said that all post-paid mobile services were being restored. However, there was no word on the Internet services and pre-paid mobiles.