LeT militant involved in UP serial blasts killed

Self-styled district commander Abdul Rahman alias Rehman Bhai, a Pakistani, and a local militant Moin Ahmed Mir were killed at Nikloora-Aglar village, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Kuldeep Khoda told reporters in Pulwama.

Police launched a search operation in the village following a tip off. During the searches, the militants fired from the house of one Haji Mohd Ismail Mantoo on the security men. In the firefight, the two LET militants were killed, he said.

Khoda said Rehman was involved in the November 23 blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow courts in which 13 people, including four lawyers, were killed.

Investigations also revealed that Rehman was closely associated with LeT cadres not only in the valley but outside the state.

Rehman's involvement has been found in several other blasts. He and associate Abu Atif were instrumental not only in supplying in arms and ammunition to the militants in UP but also helped in spreading the network there, Khoda said.

They were involved in the attack on road opening party of CRPF on February 20 last year in Kashmir in which two security men were killed.

They also carried out attack on officials of Railways in the valley in which one security personnel, Boshan Das, of 6th Battalion of India Reserve Police was killed. Khoda said the successes achieved by the security forces recently against militants in the state was result of the upgradation of intelligence set up and cooperation of the people.

"People want peace. They are coming forward with information about militants. Police and security forces are launching operations against militants which proved very successful," he said adding a large number of militants and their top leaders were killed.

The DGP said four police men - a special police officer (SPO) and three constables - were promoted to the next grade as they were instrumental in the killing of the two hardcore militants of the LeT.

Khoda said situation in the state was improving due to the people's cooperation and resolve of the security forces to bring normalcy.

In reply to a question, he said elections in the state scheduled later this year would be held in a peaceful atmosphere.

"We want a peaceful atmosphere for candidates to campaign and people to vote. Police is engaged in making the atmosphere more conducive," he said.

Regarding infiltration from across the border, Khoda said infiltration from across the border in Kashmir valley has decreased but it has been increased in Jammu region. Ten infiltrators were killed recently in Mendhar area of Poonch.