J&K: 4 killed in blast

Four people were killed in a bomb blast in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday while security forces gunned down a divisional commander of Al Badr outfit in Rajouri and two Lashker-e-Tayiba militants in Reasi district of this region, official sources in Jammu said.

A bomb blast occurred in the shop of one Mohammad Aslam at Mandi, killing the shop owner, his son Mohmmad Sharief, nephew Aijaz Ahmad and one Albdean, sources said.

During a Police-RR joint operation in village Khour Mahore of Reasi district two LeT militants, Abdul Gani (codename: Abdullah) and Ashiq Ali Sohil (codename: Vikas) were gunned down.

The security forces recovered an ISSAS rifle, a sniper rifle, a magazine, 89 rounds, and a Chinese grenade, they said.

Meanwhile, one foreign militant divisional commander of Al Badr outfit, identified as Abu Ishtaq, was killed in an encounter with security forces at Kotli Kala Ban in Manjakote area of district Rajouri.

One AK-47 rifle, three magazines and three grenades were recovered from the slain militant, sources added.