M A I N   N E W S

Militants attack MLC’s house
Rashtriya Rifles jawan dies in ambush

Srinagar, April 28
Militants attacked the house of a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of the National Conference and targeted security personnel at three places in the Kashmir valley where five persons, including an Army personnel, were killed since yesterday, official sources said today.

A group of militants surrounded the house of NC MLC Mohammad Yasin in the Yardoo area of Kishtwar in Doda district last night and opened fire on it, the sources said.

Security personnel posted at Mr Yasin’s house retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for about half an hour after which the militants escaped, they said.

However, there was no casualty or damage to the house in the attack, the sources said.

The militants dressed in army uniform attacked a police picket set up for protection of minority community in the Ganderbal area on the outskirts of Srinagar and fled after snatching two rifles from the guards.

Rashtriya Rifles soldier Rajinder Singh was killed when the militants ambushed a patrol in a Sopore village in Baramula district, the sources said.

The militants hurled a grenade and fired on a BSF picket at Rathpora-Wanganpora on the outskirts of Srinagar last night. However, no one was injured.

A foreign mercenary identified as Luqman Bhai of the Lashker-e-Toiba was killed during a joint operation of the security forces in Dardpora forests of frontier Kupwara district in the wee hours today. A number of arms and ammunition were seized from the site, the sources said.

The militants kidnapped a youth and killed him in the forest area of Kishtwar last night while a decomposed body with bullet marks of another youth who had been missing since the past six months was found in the Tangmarg area of Baramula.

Nazir Ahmed was killed and two others were injured when the security personnel mistaking them for the militants fired on them in Surankote in Poonch late last night.

In Baramula, the militants fired a few rounds in the air in the Sheeri area, causing panic among people. However, no one was injured in the firing.

Jammu: A major tragedy was averted on Saturday when the police defused a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) which was planted by the militants at a bus stand in Kishtwar town of Doda district, a police spokesman said here. PTI