M A I N   N E W S

Capt killed in Pak shelling
Tribune News Service and PTI

SRINAGAR, March 12 — An Army Captain was among two persons killed in unprovoked Pakistani shelling on Indian positions along the Line of Control in Uri sector of north Kashmir, official sources today said.

Captain Omkar Nath of 22 Maratha regiment was killed when a Pakistani shell landed near a forward Indian post in Gawalia area of Uri, 101 kms from here, in Baramulla district yesterday, the official sources said here.

The shelling in Gawalia was followed by indiscriminate firing on nearby Burser post in the Dardkote area which left a porter, Abdul Majid seriously injured.

Majid, a resident of Dardkote was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries today, the sources said.

Pakistani troops have been firing mortars and artillery guns on the Indian positions in Gawalia and Burser in Dardkote area of Uri since yesterday, they said.

Indian troops returned the fire in retaliation. Intermittent firing from both sides continued throughout the night. But, the casualties on the Pakistani side were not known immediately.

Meanwhile, reports reaching here from Karnah sector of Kupwara district said heavy shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops took place today also. There was no word on casualty.

Elsewhere in the valley three persons, including two militants were killed in Dardkote incidents since yesterday, while the security forces recovered arms and ammunition during search operations.

One militant, Showkat Ahmad Khan, alias Nana Kharu was killed in an encounter with the joint operations group of police and the BSF at Parimpora on the outskirts of the city here last night. One AK rifle, one magazine and 28 rounds were recovered from the slain militant, the police here said. Showkat Ahmad was reportedly involved in a number of incidents, the spokesman said. He added that Ahmad was a released militant of the JKLF and was presently working as body-guard of the district commander of Harkat-ul Mujahideen outfit.

Another PoK trained militant, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Aloosa village of Bandipore area in Baramulla district last night. One AK rifle, three magazines and 28 rounds were recovered from the site of the encounter. The house of Abdul Rehman Bhat, where the militant was hiding was gutted in the exchange of fire between the militant and the security forces.

The police spokesman said here that Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, a released militant of Hizbul Mujahideen, crossed over to PoK in 1994 and had returned in 1999 after acquiring training in the handling of weapons and explosives and was responsible for a number of attacks on security forces and police.