Man injured in firing; ex-militant arrested with grenade

Srinagar: A civilian was injured in a firing incident today in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, where security forces arrested a former militant and recovered a pistol and a grenade from his possession, police said.

Wasim Kuchay, a resident of Barsoo village of Tral in Pulwama, was admitted to SMHS hospital here with bullet injury near neck, a police official said.

He said Kuchay was shot with a pistol near Nowdal and suffered injury, but his condition is stated to be stable.

Earlier, a firing incident took place at Nowdal Tral, following which security forces arrested a former militant Maqbool Ganai alias Firdous, who was associated with Hizbul Mujahideen, the official said.

He said a pistol and a grenade were recovered from Ganai’s possession.

The official said police were trying to ascertain whether there is any connection between the arrested ex-militant and the injured civilian.

Further details were awaited, the official said.