Srinagar, February 23
A day after the extension of unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, six police personnel, including an SHO, were killed when militants ambushed their vehicle near Kokernag in Anantnag district this afternoon. One civilian was also killed while two constables received bullet injuries in the incident, one of them succumbing to his injuries later.

The police said that militants ambushed the police party headed by the SHO, Inspector Abdul Rashid , when it was on its way to Kokernag, at Danwantpora around 1.45 p.m. Those killed included Inspector Abdul Rashid, SHO of the Kokernag Police Station, driver Ghulam Mohammad and constable Abdul Ahad, Manzoor Ahmad, and Abdul Majid. One civilian, Mohammad Ibrahim, who received bullet injuries, later succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to the hospital. Two constables, Mohammad Abdullah and Jan Mohammad were also injured in the incident.

Injured constable Mohammad Abdullah died on way to hospital.

Militants have also taken away four self-loading rifles, two AK rifles and one wireless set of police personnel.

A massive hunt has been launched to nab the militants responsible for the attack.

This was the second major attack on police personnel in the valley during the past one week. Four police personnel and a detainee were killed when militants ambushed their vehicle at Amargrah near Sopore recently.

Earlier, an SHO of Ram Munshi Bagh was killed here in January, when an IED explosion took place at Boulevard Road while preparations were being made on the eve of Republic Day. At least eight police personnel and two militants were killed when a four-member suicide squad of militants attacked the highly guarded police control room here on February 10.

Elsewhere, in the valley, where the call for bandh had been given by the Hurriyat Conference, the police today claimed to have arrested a top militant of Al-Barq outfit, Mohammad Akbar Sheikh, alias Mansoor, one pistol and two hand grenades were recovered from his possession. A police spokesman stated here that Mansoor had been to Pakistan for training thrice. He remained associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen and then shifted loyalties to Harkatul Jehadi Islami. For the last one year, he had been working for Al-Barq as its Commander, the police said.

At least seven persons were injured when militants hurled a grenade near the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate at Dooru in Anantnag district yesterday near the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate at Dooru in Anantnag district yesterday.

A group of miscreants set ablaze a bus of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) at Baramula last evening. The police said that the miscreants were protesting against the killing of a police driver of a particular community in the town a day earlier.

An APHC spokesman, however, said there was no strike call from the conference and it was decided to hold demonstrations at different places across the valley after Friday prayers.

Shops and business establishments in Srinagar and other major towns remained closed and work in offices, banks, post offices and government-run ration depots was affected.

KATHUA: Security forces apprehended 60 Bangladeshis from Ramgarh border area when they were trying to cross the border. A spokesman said security forces gunned down two militants, including a self-styled area commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen in two different encounters at Kanyal Kot Nullah and Gamble Mudhlian on Friday. One security jawan was injured in the shootout at Mudhilian. About 15 kg of explosives were recovered at Sardai Jageer in Udhampur district last evening.

Since Thursday night more than 80 Bangladeshis have been apprehended by the security forces and the villagers from the border area of the Samba sector.