JAMMU: Ina breakthrough, security forces have uncovered a plot to blow up railway tracks in the Samba sector by Pakistani militants even as an Independent candidate, Ghulam Nabi Shah, contesting from Anantnag Parliamentary seat, e: unhurt when his convoy was attacked by militants with automatic weapons, at Pinjore in Pulwama, last week.

Two militants, Aiyaz Ahmed JKLF) and Riyaz Ahmed (Al Jehad) escaped from the custody of security forces, at Ramban, on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway, last week.

Confirming their escape, a senior police officer in Jammu said that an inquiry had been ordered into the incident.

The sources said that the incident took place when about 100 militants belonging to different outfits were being shifted to Jammu rails from Srinagar in three buses and were being escorted by the security forces. Some of the detainees were not handcuffed and as the buses halted near Ramban, the two militants managed to escape.

‘Meanwhile, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian locations along the international border in RS. Pura subsector.

A BSF spokesman said here that Pakistani Rangers opened fire on Indian positions from their outposts of ‘Chota Chak and Kiker along the border at around 4 am last week.

‘Pak Rangers fired more than 900 rounds with light to medium machine guns, he said, adding that the BSF troops returned the fire.

However, there was no loss of life or damage to property on the Indian side during the exchange of fire.

‘The plot to blow up railway tracks were revealed after a Pakistani intruder was killed by security forces in the Lodhi border outpost of Samba sector. The security forces noticed a group of Pakistani intruders near the international border. On being challenged, they tried to escape. However, the security forces opened fire killing one of them while the others fled. A map and some incriminating documents recovered from the killed intruder revealed a plan to blow up the railway track near Samba, with a remote controlled device.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 17, 1996