M A I N   N E W S

Hizb commander shot dead

JAMMU, Aug 25 (UNI, PTI) — The security forces killed four militants, including a commander of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, during overnight operations across the Jammu region.

A large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives, including RPG rockets and RDX, were recovered during the operations.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said here today that troops belonging to the Rashtriya Rifles shot dead two militants of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment, including a commander, during a search operation at Chapni Marg forests in Banihal tehsil of Doda district last evening.

The slain militants were identified as Raja Jagir Bhadar, a resident of Kotli in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Sayeed Majeed Saneen, a resident of Sarina, in Surankote of Poonch district, the spokesman said and added two AK 56 rifles, five hand grenades, one wireless set and six magazines were seized from the slain militants.

In another encounter troops killed one foreign militant at Kalani near Surankote in Poonch district late last evening. An AK 56 rifle, one magazine, an IED remote control and 26 rounds were seized from the encounter site, he said and added the slain militant was identified as Abdul Jabbar belonging to the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfit hailing from Gangoo Mandi in Pakistan.

The security forces also killed a militant at Molsar forest in Poonch during a search operation. An AK assault rifle, three hand grenades, one rifle grenade, one wireless set, seven magazines and 110 rounds were seized from the slain militant.

The spokesman said during a joint operation launched by the police and Army troops at Krishna Gali in Poonch district recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives including two high explosive shells, five solar operated missiles, six rifle grenades, 20 small RPG rockets, 20 medium RPG rockets, 24 rocket boosters, 50 kg of deadly RDX, five sealed boxes of AK ammunition, 1078 rounds, seven rucksacks, four bags, combat dresses containing three trousers and two shirts.

SRINAGAR: A former policeman and a militant have been killed while BSF jawans repulsed a militant attack on their post in the Kashmir valley since last evening, an official spokesman said.

Meanwhile, militants fired four rifle grenades and followed it by firing on a BSF post at Bomai in the Sopore area last night. The BSF jawans retaliated and repulsed the militant attack, the spokesman said, adding no one was hurt in the shootout.