Jammu: Three militants, on a recce mission to plant improvised explosive devices (IED) during Independence Day celebrations in Jammu region were arrested, a Defence spokesman said today (Aug 8, 2004).

The three, two of them belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen, intended to plant IEDs in a Government higher secondary school and a Government hospital ahead of Independence Day in R S Pura district, he said.

Army first apprehended a militant, identified as Naeem Ahmed Sofi, moving around in suspicious circumstances in the area, the spokesman said.

On interrogation, he said he was working for two Hizb militants who had asked him to carry out reconnaissance for planting IEDs.

The two militants were later arrested, the spokesman said.