With the arrest of two overground workers, Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday claimed to have foiled a plan of Hizbul Mujahideen militants to kill five Gujjars in Reasi district following the killing of a top self-styled commander of the outfit.
Acting on intelligence inputs that a group of militants with the help of their sympathisers are planning to kill five Gujjars in Mahore area of Reasi, police and troops of 54 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) raided a hideout and arrested two overground workers last evening, police officials said.
The arrested were identified as Mohammad Ashraf, a government teacher, and Shabir Ahmed, they said.
Police claimed Shabir wanted to kill Gujjars as his uncle and top Hizb 'Commander' Mushtaq Ahmed alias Irfan along with two other militants were eliminated in an encounter in Mahore in September, based on information provided by some members of the community.
Shabir had gone to Kulgam district along with Ashraf, contacted Hizb 'Commander' Basharat Ahmed and made a plan to kill five Gujjars with the help of HM cadre, they said.