Border Security Force men arrested a woman guerrilla "commander" allegedly involved in militant activities in Kashmir, a senior official said Tuesday.
The militant, identified as Mughli Begum, alias Saddam, was arrested on Monday from Reyar village in Kashmir's central district of Budgam.
"Mughli is involved in militant activities and is the district commander of Dukhtaran-e-Milat (Daughters of Faith)," said Rajinder Singh Bhullar, Deputy Inspector General here of the BSF.
Dukhtaran-e-Milat is a leading women's separatist group. It claims it is a socio-religious group favouring Indian Kashmir's accession to Pakistan.
When brought before journalists, Mughli, the mother of four, denied she was a member of the Dukhtaran group.
BSF deputy inspector general Bhullar later said Mughli used to harbour and guide cadres of militant outfits such as the Hizbul Mujahedin.
The BSF official charged Mughli with "arranging" the murder of two people, including a policeman working with Kashmir's counter-insurgency unit.
Mughli admitted to arranging a meeting between the militants and the policeman but said she was being falsely implicated in the incident.
"The militants had promised me that he would be released after questioning," she said. "But instead they shot him dead."
She was later handed over to the local police.
Last week security forces arrested nine girls in Bandipora township, sparking noisy protests against the administration.
Seven of the girls were released, while two others were handed over to police after two radiosets and two grenades were found in their possession.
Bureau Report