Srinagar, May 7
Even though India and Pakistan have announced peace initiatives, stepped-up violence has claimed 20 lives in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours. An official spokesman said the security forces killed a Hizbul Mujahideen militant at Khan Sahib in the central Kashmir district of Badgam today.
The security forces killed three militants at Serik and another ultra was gunned down at Pohan during two different search operations today.
The troops averted a major tragedy when they defused a grenade at a crowded general bus stand at Batmaloo today.
Official sources said militants ambushed security force party at Satarna Rafiabad in Baramula district who were returning after a search operation in a nearby village today.
The security forces retaliated and the exchange continued for some time during which seven soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were injured. Two soldiers succumbed to their wounds.
Two bodies were later recovered from the site. Official sources said an encounter took place between militants and the security forces during a search operation at Vilgam village in the frontier district of Kupwara last night.
The sources said two Jaish militants — a commander and a deputy district commander — were killed in the four-hour-long clash. .
Meanwhile, BSF jawan, who was critically wounded during an encounter at Kulgam in south Kashmir on Monday, died at the hospital today. Two Hizb militants were killed in the encounter.
A jawan was killed when militants attacked a patrol party at Kupwara last evening. The spokesman said the security forces in three different encounters at Mohara, Hill Kaka and Kasblari killed five militants last night. A soldier lost his life during an encounter at Nadian.
UNI
