Srinagar, March 24
An Army officer was killed and four others were injured in an ambush by militants in the Kashmir valley, where a civilian was killed and the CRPF repulsed a militant attack on their camp since last night, official sources said today.

Captain Anil B. Upadiyar was killed and four sepoys were injured when heavily-armed militants attacked an Army search party at the Pothushahi area in frontier district of Kupwara last night, the sources said.

Army personnel fired back but the militants managed to escape after intense firing. A search operation was still continuing in the area and some arms and ammunition have been recovered from the scene of the encounter.

Militants shot dead a civilian, Mam Din, near Chadoora in Badgam district of central Kashmir last night. He was killed on the suspicion of being an informer of the security forces.

Militants also set ablaze a house belonging to Mohammad Shafi in the Gadool area in Anantnag, the sources said.

Meanwhile, CRPF personnel repulsed a militant attack on their camp housed in a government building in Bandipora town of Baramula district in north Kashmir early today.

Militants opened fire and lobbed grenades on CRPF posts inside the camp, but the security personnel retaliated forcing the militants to escape, the sources said, adding that no one was hurt in the shootout.

Meanwhile a pro-Pakistan militant outfit, the Al-Jehad has warned separatist leaders against contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.

The outfit had also issued warning to former militants turned journalists for allegedly spreading misinformation against the separatist organisations.

In a statement issued to press, chief commander of the outfit Shaharyar Khan said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had not sacrificed their lives to contest elections and assume power.

He alleged that some former militants turned journalists were spreading wrong information regarding the separatist leaders.

The Al-Jehad commander asked journalists not to fall into the trap of vested interests who were trying to mislead the people.

Shaharyar Khan warned that the journalists who would not report true facts would be disallowed to continue in the noble profession.

JAMMU: Three policemen were killed and two others were wounded when a group of militants ambushed a patrol party in Kalakot area of Rajouri district on Sunday.

According to official reports, a police party was sent to flush out militants from a hide-out. As the party was on its way, militants ambushed it and opened fire on the policemen. The police retaliated, killing one militant on the spot.