SRINAGAR: Security forces captured Noor Mohammad Kalwal, the deputy chief commander of the outlawed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front in downtown Srinagar, the summer capital of volatile northern Indian Jammu Kashmir, Tuesday.

An official source, describing Kalwal’s arrest as a” prize catch”, told PTI that he was nabbed a stranger stop near Khanyar early Tuesday. Two of his associates managed to escape.

With Kalwal’s arrest, four of the five hard core militants released in exchange of Rubiya Sayeed, daughter of former federal home (interior) minister Mufti Mohammad Sayed, have been arrested.

Sher Khan, an Azad Kashmir  citizens the only hardcore militant released on December 17, 1989 in exchange of Sayeed, who is still at large.

Tension gripped Srinagar and adjoining areas soon after the news of the arrest of Kalwal.

Shopkeepers downed their shutters and transport was disrupted.

The army meanwhile, continued search operations in downtown Srinagar for the fourth consecutive day Tuesday.

Azads cousin kidnaped

Militants abducted yet another relative of federal parliamentary affairs minister GhulamNabi Azad while four persons including two hostages were gunned down in continued violence in Kashmir valley overnight Sunday.

Fifteen suspects were arrested from Srinagar, Kupwara, Anantnag and Badgam districts in the intensified search operations by the Army and paramilitary forces, who also cordoned off Shalteng on the outskirts of Srinagar Monday, an official said.

In other acts of arson 28 houses and shops were gutted in different incidents of fire in the strife tom alley in India’s northern most Jammu and Kashmir state, where Muslim militants are fighting for secession from India.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 11, 1991