M A I N   N E W S

Blasts rock valley on Jang-e-Badr day
Tribune News Service and agencies

SRINAGAR, Dec 14 — At least three persons were killed and 14 others injured in four explosions caused by the militants across Kashmir valley today. Five others, including an activist of the ruling National Conference, were killed in other militancy-related incidents in Kashmir since yesterday, today being the 17th day of the ceasefire coinciding with the holy war or Jang-e-Badr.

A tonga driver and a CRPF jawan were killed when militants detonated an IED fitted in a bicycle near Hassan Motors, Sopore in Baramula district this afternoon. Four CRPF personnel, including CO of 82 Battalion J.P. Agnihotri and nine pedestrians were injured in the explosion. The condition of two of the injured was stated to be serious and they were shifted to a hospital here. The police said that militants detonated the IED when a Gypsy of the CRPF was passing in the area, this afternoon.

One person was killed and another injured when an IED explosion took place near a Food and Supplies godown at Kralhar near Baramula at 11.15 am today. The storekeeper, Mushtaq Ahmad Kar, died on the spot, while a driver, Mohinder Singh, received splinter injuries. Partial damage was caused to the godown, police said.

Militants hurled a grenade towards Shiraz Cinema, a camp of the security forces around 12.30 pm today, which missed the target and exploded in the compound of Farooq Ahmad Qadiri, resulting in minor damage to the house.

In another incident, militants hurled a grenade towards a vegetable vendor in the main market of Kulgam in Anantnag district at 2 pm today. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the road without causing any damage.

Militants shot dead Abdul Rehman Mir, an activist of the ruling National Conference at Zachaldara in Kupwara district last evening, the police here said.

The police today recovered the body of a surrender militant Showkat Ahmad Khan of Gutli Bagh, Ganderbal from the Uprash forests in Srinagar district. He had been kidnapped by militants from his house two-day ago.

Militants killed Mohammad Ismail of Khilan Gujjar in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district last night. Investigations into the incident have been started, the police said.

Militants also attacked a CPM office in the valley.

Earlier, in a blast set off in a similar manner, a civilian lost his life and another was injured when militants made an abortive attempt to target an army convoy at Kralhal on the Srinagar-Baramula road.

Security forces across the valley were put on high alert following intelligence inputs that militants, who have rejected the month-long unilateral ceasefire, would intensify attacks on Jung Badr Day (the war of Badr which was won by Muslims during the time of Prophet Mohammad).