Sopore locals set militant's house ablaze

Leaving fear behind, residents of the apple-rich town of Sopore on Saturday rose against alleged militants and set ablaze the house of Lashkar-e-Tioba ultra after they tried to abduct a local girl at Nowpora Kalan village on Saturday.

This is the first such incident in the recent past wherein people have risen against militants in sensitive Sopore, which has been the hotbed of militancy. A joint party of police, CRPF and army rushed to the village after receiving information that unknown gunmen had barged into a girl's house with the intention of committing an offence in the wee hours of Saturday.

"The house owner had already overpowered one of the persons, Mudasir Ahmad," a police spokesperson said. Ahmad led the security personnel to the house of Imran Ahmad Dar, the plan's mastermind. Imran was arrested and an AK-47 riffle and ammunition seized. Two of their accomplices escaped, the police said.

"It is pertinent to mention that Imran was earlier arrested along with Pakistani terrorist Fahadullah of LeT and was released on bail recently," the spokesman said. "A case against him was registered for kidnapping a girl in the past too," Sopore superintendent of police Abdul Qayoom told dna.

Soon after the news spread, the people assembled in the village and set the house of fire. However security forces immediately rushed to the spot and tried to bring the situation under control.