M A I N   N E W S

JD (U) leader killed in J&K

Relatives weep over the killing of Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar on Thursday. Terrorists shot Ahmad, a senior member of the Janata Dal (U), outside his home in Srinagar. — Reuters

Srinagar, March 18
In stepped-up violence ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, militants gunned down youth Janata Dal (United) vice president Mukhtiar Ahmad Bhat here today.

In other militancy related incidents across the valley, six militants, including a top commander and a police constable were among 11 persons killed overnight.

Official sources said militants fired at Mr Bhat from a very close range at Chana Mohalla, Chattabal in the downtown city around 10.30 a.m. today.

Bhat, a former militant, who served two years’ jail term under Public Safety Act in 1994, was immediately rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

He is the first senior politician killed by the militants in the valley after the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced.

Militants have stepped up their activities after the announcement of polls to force people to stay away from the poll process.

On March 16, houses of three politicians were attacked with grenades and automatic weapons while the house of one politician was blasted in south Kashmir where posters had recently appeared asking people to stay away from the election process or face consequences.

Meanwhile, a report from Baramulla said three bodies were recovered from Dangiwahi Rafiabad in north Kashmir last evening. The bodies were removed by the police for identification.

A constable Mukhtiar Ahmad was injured when his rifle went off accidentally at Baramulla last evening.

He was admitted to hospital where he died this morning.

Sources said a shootout took place between militants and the security forces at Kulgam in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag today in which two militants, including a top commander of an outfit were killed.

The security forces also gunned down one militant each at Khandroo, Pahalgam and Kokernag in separate gun battles today. A large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Another militant was killed in an encounter at Rajpora Handwara in north Kashmir last night. — UNI