Srinagar, July 30
Three militants of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, including a battalion commander, were killed in a day-long operation after they were holed up inside a shrine in the Tangmarg area of Baramula district, about 30 km from here today.

Police sources here said the security forces launched search operations in Goigam village near Kunzar in the Tangmarg area of Baramula district early this morning. The security forces during the search operations in the village noticed the presence of militants hiding in the shrine of Syed Mohammad Ali. The militants were asked to surrender before the security forces. They, however, opened heavy firing on the security forces, that was retaliated. Two militants hiding in the shrine tried to escape while firing heavily on the troops. One of the militants was killed in the action, while the other returned in an injured condition.

The operation which continued till late in the afternoon, concluded with the death of two more hiding militants inside the shrine. sources here said. One of those killed was identified as Mustafa Khan, battaliion commander of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen. There were no reports yet available about any possible damage to the shrine.

Elsewhere, at least six militants were killed and nine others, including six security force personnel and three civilians, were injured in separate incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

The police here said that two militants of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Pattan area of Baramula district yesterday. The house in which the militants were hiding was gutted in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces. Two security forces jawans and two civilians were also injured in the incident. One AK rifle, one magazine, one pistol with a magazine, seven rounds, one UBGL grenade and a rifle grenade were seized.

Two militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Rajdhani, in the Manjakote sector of Rajouri district in the Jammu region. Two AK rifles and two pistols were recovered from the site of the encounter.

Militants shot dead Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, a released militant of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen at Midoora in the Tral area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir. He was working as work superviser in the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC), the police said.

The police today recovered the body of Munshi Kataria from the Mirzapur area of Pulwama district. He was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from his house last night.