M A I N   N E W S

Seven ultras killed in encounter
Tribune News Service and agencies

Jammu, April 18
The security forces achieved a major success when they killed seven hardcore militants in Digham village near Hiranagar in Kathua district today.

The police said that on receiving information that a group of militants had come down from the nearby upper reaches to the village market for buying foodgrains and other essential items, a joint operation by the police and the Army was launched. As the forces neared the spot they came under heavy fire in which one soldier and one Captain were injured.

Additional forces were rushed to the area and the troops retaliated in which the hideout was smashed. The encounter was still on and initial reports said that seven rebels had been killed so far. The police said the figure may go up after the area was searched. It said that this group of militants had infiltrated from across the international border in recent weeks.

SRINAGAR: Militants shot dead a special police officer (SPO) and wounded two others, including a policeman, in separate incidents in Kashmir where a Hizbul Mujahideen ultra, active for the last 10 years, was apprehended on Wednesday.

Bullet-riddled body of SPO Abdul Rashid Bhat, abducted by militants on Tuesday, was found in his Turkipora village in Baramula district this morning, a police spokesman said. He said the SPO was shot dead by his abductors.

Militants shot at and injured a man in his house in the Tral area of Pulwama district, the spokesman said.

He said a policeman, Mohammad Ramzan, was shot at and injured by militants in Pulwama district’s Shopian area. The ultras also took away his rifle before fleeing.

The spokesman said a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Ghulam Mohiuddin Bhat, was apprehended by the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Sangam area of Anantnag district.