Four suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed militants were killed in an encounter with security forces early Thursday near the toll plaza in Ban area of Nagrota on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, officials said. They added that a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists’ possession.

According to a top police officer, the militants were on their way to the Kashmir Valley to disrupt the District Development Council (DDC) which will be held later this month, as the neighbouring Pakistan has been trying to cause trouble in the political process.

For the last few days, Pakistan has increased attempts to infiltrate militants into this side and to disturb the elections for which the process is on. In this context, Jammu Police and security forces have done a good job by neutralising four Pakistanis (militants). Their (militants') aim was to come to Kashmir to disturb the election process,” Vijay kumar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, told reporters.

He added that the security forces were fully prepared to tackle any militant attack during the polls.

“Whether there is an election or August 15 or January 26 or even a VIP visit, apprehensions are always there, but we are fully prepared... We are providing security to the candidates and they have started going to the field for campaigning from yesterday and there is nothing to fear,” Kumar said.

However, according to the IGP, providing security to each candidate in the November 28 polls would be difficult. “Providing security to each candidate is difficult. We are providing them collective security and they are being put up in secure areas. Whenever any candidate goes out for campaigning, we provide a double escort with him and secure the area for him to campaign, he said when asked that the candidates were alleging they had not been provided security.”

On being asked about the number of terrorists waiting at the launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) to infiltrate the Indian side, Kumar informed that that according to inputs, about 250 of them, adding that the security forces are prepared to foil Pakistan’s intentions.

“Other security forces have already given the figures that about 200 to 250 militants are ready to infiltrate, but the security forces are alert. The endeavour of Pakistan is to push more militants into this side, but the security forces are prepared to foil their designs,” he said.

The IGP also informed that the militant behind Wednesday’s grenade attack in Pulwama has been identified as well.

“It was an unfortunate incident. The target was CRPF and police, but 12 civilians were injured -- out of whom four were rushed to a Srinagar hospital, but their condition is stable. We have identified the militant who threw the grenade and we are after him and will arrest him soon,” Kumar said.