M A I N   N E W S

Kilo Force smashes hideouts

SRINAGAR, May 18 (UNI, PTI) — At least one jawan was killed when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked shelling in Karnah sector from across the border last night.

Three militants, including two Pakistani intruders, were killed while troops of Kilo Force smashed a number of underground hideouts in the state during the past 24 hours.

Official sources said Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked artillery and mortar shelling from across the border in Karnah sector last evening. One of the shells fell near a bunker resulting in the on-the-spot death of a jawan.

Indian troops also retaliated, targetting Pakistani bunkers. However, the number of casualties suffered by the Pak troops was not known.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said troops of Kilo Force busted a number of under-ground hideouts in and around Bandipore and Nasta Chun Pass in the frontier district of Kupwara early this morning.

He said a large cache of arms and ammunition, including six AK rifles, two pistols, five kg of explosive and UMG rounds were recovered from these hideouts.

An official spokesman said security forces killed a militant at Duga Bala Bhaderwah during a search operation last night.

He said security forces killed two Pakistani intruders at Tikri in Sunderbani sector last evening while one grenade launcher, four grenades,3 rockets and 440 rounds were recovered at Khadren forest in Kalakote sector.

The police arrested three militants in Srinagar last evening while militants shot at and injured Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Sofi alias Wali Kandroo at Kreeri Pattan this afternoon.

Panic gripped general bus stand Batmaloo when militants hurled a hand grenade towards a Border Security Force bunker this afternoon. However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded, without causing any damage.

JAMMU: Four persons were killed and four powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recovered in Jammu region since last evening, official sources said here on Thursday.

On a tip off, security forces launched a search operation in the hills of Baranala village in Udhampur district last night to flush out militants. In the ensuing gunfight, two militants were killed and others escaped towards upper reaches of the area, the sources said.

In the Morhen-Nahali area, the security forces recovered a body, reportedly of a person killed in an exchange of fire between troops and militants in the area, the sources said.

Another body was recovered from Surankote river in the Pamrote area in Poonch last night, the sources said.

During a search operation in Diary-Railkote area of Rajouri district, the security forces recovered a bag containing four powerful IEDs weighing 5 kgs each today.

Meanwhile, there was no information about kidnapped Irshad Hussain, the son of National Conference legislative council member (MLC), Abdul Aziz Wani for second day today, the sources said, adding that the search was on to trace him.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for his abduction so far.