Clashes in Kashmir over recovery of bodies

A protest shutdown and clashes continued for the second day on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir' Baramulla district after bullet-riddled bodies of three youth were found there.

Police have now identified all the three bodies - found in an apple orchard in Pattan area - as those of militants belonging Lashkar-e-Islami breakaway faction of Hizbul Mujahedeen outfit.

A senior police officer said the triple murders took place because of rivalry between two militant groups.

On Tuesday morning, clashes erupted at some places along the national highway as shops, business establishments and traffic remained off the roads amid a complete shutdown in Pattan, Pallhallan Sopore and adjoining towns.

Police on Monday said two killed militants of Lashkar-e-Islami group belonged to Baramulla district, while the third identified on Tuesday also belonged to Sopore town of the same district.

The breakaway separatist guerrilla outfit Lashkar-e-Islami is led by a wanted militant commander, Qayoom Najar, who hit news headlines in April-May this year by targeting cellular phone services in many parts of north Kashmir and also in Srinagar.