Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 2: A militant was today killed in an encounter with security forces in Malbagh area here, police said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation near Habak Crossing, following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire at the security forces positions.
In the exchange of firing, one militant was killed, the official said.
He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant is being ascertained.
The operation is going on, the official added.
Meanwhile, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) today arrested a 24 years old man Mohammad Iqbal Rather of Charar-e-Shareef area of district Budgam for his involvement in 2019 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were martyred.
The NIA said that Rather had facilitated the movement of Muhammad Umar Farooq, the JeM militant and a key conspirator in this case, after he infiltrated into Jammu region in April 2018.
Farooq, along with others, had assembled the IED used in Pulwama attack that took place on February 14, 2019.
Rather had been undergoing judicial custody since September, 2018 in another Jaish-e-Mohammed related case investigated by NIA.
As such, he was produced by the Jail authorities before the NIA Special Court, Jammu today and was taken into 7 days NIA custody for his interrogation.
The NIA said that initial examination has revealed that Rather was in constant touch with Pakistan-based leadership of Jaish-e-Mohammed and was in communication with them over secure messaging applications.
They said he was part of the ‘transportation module’ of Jaish-e-Mohammed militant organisation.
With this arrest, NIA has so far arrested 6 accused persons in this case. Investigation in this case is in progress.
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