Srinagar: Radical pro-Pakistan militant outfit Jamiat-ul Mujahideen (JuM) claimed its cadre shot down the MiG-21 fighter plane that crashed near Srinagar on December 26 even as the Indian Air Force (IAF) ruled out any such possibility.

A person claiming to be the spokesman of the outfit told reporters over phone that JuM men fired a missile at the plane causing it to crash on a house killing one person and injuring his two-year old son.

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He said the plane was shot down in response to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's appeal to militants on December 25 asking them to surrender arms.

"We will not lay down arms and every such appeal would be met with same reaction," the spokesman added.

IAF spokesman Sq Ldr R K Dhingra said in Delhi that the possibility of the aircraft being hit by a missile or ground fire is ruled out.

PTI