Srinagar: Security forces killed a 55-year-old mentally challenged man in central Kashmir's Budgam district on Sunday night after he purportedly tried to enter the highly fortified Air Force Station and raised the suspicion that he could be a suicide attacker.

Last week, militants stormed an army camp in Jammu and killed six soldiers and a jawan's father. A similar attempt to raid a Srinagar camp was made.

Locals identified the man as Syed Habibullah of Soibugh village in Budgam. They said Syed, who was mentally challenged, was survived by three sons and a daughter and that the family was extremely poor.

Thousands participated in his funeral amid pro- azadi slogans.

Police said that on Sunday night, the man entered the security zone of the Air Force Station, crossed the fence and came close to the perimeter wall.

"Despite repeated warning from the sentry, the individual did not stop. The sentry fired some warning shots in the air but the individual did not stop. The sentry later fired towards him," a police spokesperson said.

The police version could not be independently confirmed.

"A spot examination revealed that the individual who appeared to be mentally challenged had died in the incident," the spokesperson added.

The police said the person was without footwear and proper winter clothing and did not carry any identity card. "There is no habitation near the place of the incident," the spokesperson said.

Intruder killed

The army has foiled an attack by a Pakistani Border Action Team - militants helped by soldiers of the neighbouring country - in Jammu's Poonch sector, killing an armed intruder, injuring two others and seizing a huge cache of arms and ammunition.