Army on Wednesday said it has scuttled militants' plan to make a bid on the life of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during a function in Kupwara district with the arrest of three youths.

Three local youth -- Imtiyaz, Sajjad and Akhtar -- were caught by troops of Rashtriya Rifles in Handwara while they plotting to make a bid on the life of Azad, a defence spokesman said.

Azad was in Handwara in connection with a convention of Congress workers on Tuesday.

The troops picked up one Imtiyaz who was moving around suspiciously in the town on Tuesday and during interrogation, he confessed to plotting against Azad, the spokesman said.

He was in possession of a grenade when he was caught.      

Imtiyaz told the troops that he had been instructed to lob it when Azad would visit the town in the afternoon, the official said.

During questioning, he also named his accomplices Sajjad and Akhtar who were caught later.