Escaping militant killed in blast, infiltration bid foiled in J&K (Evening Lead)

A militant was killed and a policeman injured in a grenade attack at a police station, one civilian was injured in a clash with security forces, while an infiltration bid was foiled in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant, in police custody, was killed when his fellow militants hurled a grenade at a police station in Pulwama district to help him escape.

"Terrorist Mushtaq Ahmad Chopan died in the grenade explosion while trying to escape from Tral police station," said Director General of Police S.P. Vaid.

A police constable sustained minor injuries in the blast.

In Bandipora district, a civilian was injured in clashes with the security forces during protests following a brief gunfight.

Riyaz Ahmad was injured in the clash in Hajan area where militants and security forces had exchanged fire earlier in the day, a police officer said. Taking advantage of the clashes, the militants hiding in the area managed to escape, reports said.

In another incident, Border Security Force troopers foiled an infiltration bid across the International Border in Samba district.

Alert troopers noticed suspicious movement near one of the border outposts in Samba around 5 a.m. and opened fire and used illumination flares, leading to group of militants trying to infiltrate into Indian territory being forced to withdraw, an official said.

--IANS

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