Army jawan arrested with two grenades at Srinagar airport

An army jawan was arrested with two grenades at Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar airport by an anti-hijacking squad on Monday.

A senior officer gave him the grenades to be handed over to someone in Delhi, sources quoted the soldier as saying. “Major sahib ne kaha tha (Major sir told me to do so),” the jawan said during his questioning.

The explosives were found in the baggage as the soldier, posted near in the line of control in Uri, was to board a chartered Air India flight for security personnel.

The jawan, identified as Bhupal Mukhia, is a resident of Darjeeling in West Bengal and is from 17 J&K Rifles.

The incident has not been confirmed by either the army or police.

Srinagar is one of the most guarded airports in the country, with an elaborate security drill in place.

The soldier’s arrest comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenani-Nashri all-weather tunnel in the border state.

A few hours after the inauguration, a policeman was killed and 14 security personnel injured in a grenade attack by militants in Nowhatta in downtown Srinagar.

Nineteen soldiers were killed in when suspected Pakistani militants struck an army camp in Uri in September 18.