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Leader of militant group arrested in Kashmir

August 23, 2009 19:57 IST

The Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday arrested the chief commander of Al-badr outfit in north Kashmir.

Acting on specific information, the police arrested Zeenatul Islam Shah, from north Kashmir's Sopore town.

"He was arrested today from Sopore town," a senior police officer said. He added that the militant commander had taken over as the chief commander of the outfit five years ago from a Pakistani militant identified as Abdullah.

Zeenatul Islam was operating in north Kashmir's Kupwara, Baramulla and south Kashmir's Shopian districts, informed the police officer.

He also acted as a coordinator between the various militant outfits including Lashkar-e- Tayiba, sources said.

The militant commander was involved in the kidnapping and killings of two policemen in Sopore last year, said the police official.

Meanwhile, security forces killed two militants and foiled an infiltration bid in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Sunday.

Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar