M A I N   N E W S

Cong leader among 7 killed
Tribune News Service and PTI

SRINAGAR, Oct 7 — A Congress leader and three militants were among seven persons killed in separate incidents, while ultras attacked the house of a protected person and torched houses of four special police officers in Jammu and Kashmir since last night.

Official sources said in Jammu that Congress block president Zaffar Hussain was shot dead and his son seriously injured when militants ambushed their vehicle at Mughal Maidan in Doda district last evening.

Militants fired on the vehicle, killing Hussain on the spot and critically injuring his son, the sources said, adding that a manhunt had been launched to nab the culprits.

Reports from Rajouri district said an Army jawan was killed and another injured when militants opened fire on a patrol party in the Bei Nambal area.

The troops also retaliated and in the crossfire, one civilian was killed, the sources said.

A militant was killed during a heavy fight between troops and ultras in Barneli forest of Udhampur district. However, other militants escaped under the cover of darkness, the sources said, adding that one Army officer sustained bullet injury in the clash and hospitalised.

Meanwhile, the police recovered a human skeleton in the Gurez area of Baramulla district.

A police spokesman stated here this evening that two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Chakura in the Pattan area of Baramulla district. One jawan of the security forces was also killed while another injured in the incident. One Pika gun, two AK rifles, two AK magazines two pistols, six magazines, six hand grenades and a rocket launcher were seized from the site of the encounter.

In another encounter at Tarabal, Gurez in Baramulla district, an unidentified militant was killed today. One AK rifle, four magazines with 50 rounds, one pistol, two magazines and six rounds were seized from the site of the encounter.

An SPO (Special Police Officer) or a counter-insurgent, Shahbaz Ahmad Malik from the Lolab area in Kupwara district was shot dead near SMHS Hospital here yesterday. The police said Malik had come to the hospital with a patient. His rifle was snatched by the militants. During searches after the area was cordoned off by the security forces, a pistol, one magazine with seven rounds were seized.

Unidentified militants shot dead Bashir Ahmad Dar, an employee of Tehsil office, Pulwama near his house at Tral in Pulwama district yesterday.

The police here said that a human skeleton was found at Cheknala Barnai in the Gurez area of Baramulla district yesterday. It was disposed of after completing legal formalities.

One civilian was injured when an explosive device went off at Drugmulla, Anderhama in Kupwara district today. Militants resorted to firing upon the house of Abdul Razak Mir at Zethan Panzla in Baramulla district last evening. However, no damage was caused.

The daughter-in-law of Mir Chand in Doda district was injured when unidentified militants hurled a grenade into their kitchen through its chimney the other day.

Militants opened fire on the house of a protected person, Abdul Razzaq Mir at Zaithan in Badgam district last night.

The police guards posted in the house returned the fire, forcing militants to escape. None was hurt in the shootout, the spokesman said.

Suspected militants burnt the houses of four surrendered militants, currently working as SPO at Khoriwali and Madoon villages in Rajouri district on the night of October 5. Before torching the houses, the militants asked the family members of the SPO to come out, the sources said.