Bandipora, July 19: Thousands of people today took to streets in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district after troops killed a divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in an encounter.
Abu Zarar was killed last night in Garoora when he was escaping from the village after a day-long search operation, a police officer said.
“Army and SOG moved out Sunday morning to cordon off the area but the militant remained hidden till last night when he was located while escaping the operation area,” the officer told Greater Kashmir.
Zarar was active in the area for past 16 years.
Army also arrested two local residents, Ghulam Mohuiddin Bhat and Muhammad Shafi.
Thousands of people from Garoora and adjoining villages came out of their homes and staged pro-freedom protests while taking the body of the slain commander on shoulders. The protesters raised pro-freedom slogans while marching from Garoora to Aragam.
LANDMINE DEFUSED:
An anti-personnel mine was today detected by troops near the Indo-Pak border in Samba district, police said.
Acting on an information provided by a farmer, troops rushed to Regal village and detected the landmine, they said. It was later defused.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST