Jammu, January 20
The police has foiled a major plan of disrupting the Republic Day celebrations here by arresting two militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen who, during interrogation, confessed that they planned to cause explosions and carry out suicide attacks on the security forces deployed around Maulana Azad Stadium where the main function was to be held on January 26.

Disclosing this to newspersons here today, SSP Farooq Khan said Bashir Ahmed and Mohammad Sahfi had travelled from Budgam to Jammu to carry out acts of subversion and sabotage.

On the basis of intelligence reports, the police had laid a naka and arrested the duo on the outskirts of Jammu. Two pistols, 2 kg of RDX and some detonators were seized from them.

The police also recovered some arms and ammunition that had been concealed near the Nikki Tawi area and which was to be used on or before the Republic Day celebrations.

Bashir Ahmed and Mohammad Soafi disclosed that the district commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen had assigned them the task of storming the stadium and other government installations.

Mr Khan said round the clock patrol in the city and its adjoining areas had been ordered.

A report from Srinagar, meanwhile, said 10 militants and an Army jawan were killed in separate incidents in Kashmir valley since yesterday, while the body of an unidentified person was fished out from the Jhelum today.

A police spokesman said three bodies of militants were recovered from the debris of a house gutted in an exchange of firing between the militants and the security forces at Kandi in Kupwara district yesterday.

A jawan was also killed in exchange of firing, the police said.

Two militants of the Jaish-e-Mohammad were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir. Two AK rifles, four magazines and 150 rounds were recovered from the site of the encounter.

The Army killed Mohammad Ramzan Chopan, a militant, in Dedikote forests of Kupwara district yesterday.

The police fished out a body from a river near Ganpatyar in the city this morning.

The police booked a woman under POTO for harbouring and providing information to the militants in Doda district, the police said today.

Gulabi, wife of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, who was killed in an encounter with security personnel, was arrested at Sumar village of the district yesterday.