JKLF chief held on way to attend funeral of slain HM militant in Budgam

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik was today arrested in central Kashmir district of Budgam when he was on way to attend the funeral of a top Hizbul Mujahideen militant, who was killed in an encounter yesterday.

A JKLF spokesperson told UNI that Malik was on way to attend the funeral prayers of operational commander of HM Yasin Itoo alias Mehmood Gaznavi at his native village in Chadoora in Budgam.

However, he said the JKLF chief was arrested by security forces near Chadoora Bridge and lodged in a local police station.Besides Itoo, two other militants, Umar Majeed Mir of Kathpora Yaripora in Kulgam and Irfan Sheikh of Maldera in Shopian, were killed in the encounter with security forces in south Kashmir district of Shopian yesterday.Two soldiers were also killed and three others injured in the encounter which lasted for over 12 hours.