Pak ultra nabbed in J&K

Terror returns: 2 BSF jawans, 1 militant killed in ambush

Security agencies managed to nab a Pakistani militant on Wednesday after a Border Security Force (BSF) convoy was ambushed on the Jammu-Srinagar highway near Udhampur. The catch has bolstered India’s claims of terrorism emanating from across the border.

Sources said two to three militants in army fatigues laid an ambush near Narsu Nallah on a BSF convoy en route from Jammu to Srinagar at around 7:30 am.

The militants fired indiscriminately and also hurled grenades, killing at least two BSF personnel and injuring 11 others. One militant was also killed in retaliatory fire.

“One terrorist tried to enter the bus, but was gunned down by an alert trooper,” sources said, and added that the other terrorist managed to escape from the encounter site and took three persons hostage in a nearby school building.

The terrorist was arrested after an operation was launched by the Army and the police, sources said adding that the operation ended around 12:30 pm.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu, Dinesh Rana said three people held hostage have been freed and police have got hold of one of the terrorists. “Capturing him alive is a big achievement,” he added.

The IGP told reporters that the captured terrorist told security forces that his name is Usman and that he is from Faisalabad in Pakistan. Unconfirmed reports said the militant aged 20 was overpowered by two of the villagers whom he held hostage.

A senior police official told Deccan Herald that the captured militant has been taken away for further questioning.

Initially, it was suspected that the militants planned to target Amarnath pilgrims passing through the area, but Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh ruled out any such links.

A convoy of Amarnath pilgrims, however, had crossed the area on the highway before the attack.

The terror attack was the first in Udhampur district in over a decade and comes days after militants attacked Dina Nagar Police Station in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, killing seven and injuring 10 others.