Six mercenaries killed in valley
SRINAGAR, Sept 18 — Nine militants, including six foreigners, and a jawan were killed in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

Abductors free BJP leader’s son
SRINAGAR, Sept 18 — The 34-hour-long hostage drama involving the kidnapping of the seven-year-old son of a BJP leader ended here this evening when the boy was set free by his kidnappers after receiving a hefty sum as ransom.

Six mercenaries killed in valley

SRINAGAR, Sept 18 (UNI) — Nine militants, including six foreigners, and a jawan were killed in militancy-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said militants attacked a security forces camp with automatic weapons and grenades at Botvana camp near Ganderbal last night, killing a jawan on the spot. Militants escaped before security forces could retaliate.

A bomb blast took place in the house of one Muzamillohar at Dardpora in the frontier district of Kupwara last evening. No one was injured in the blast.

Militants also hurled a hand grenade towards a security force picket at cement bridge Baramula last evening. However, the grenade missed the target and exploded on the roadside without causing any damage.

Six foreign militants including a self-styled divisional commander were killed in a fierce encounter between militants and security forces at muhi Dhara area last evening. Later security forces recovered seven AK rifles, one rocket launcher, one grenade launcher, seven wireless sets, four pistols, 1300 rounds, 39 grenades, one binocular and more than Rs one lakh in cash from the slain militants.

Security forces also gunned down two militants at Bhunjwa and another was killed at Hill Dhok during two encounters since last evening. A large cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of encounter.

JAMMU: A bomb blast damaged a two-storey office building, while three militants were killed and two injured in separate encounters in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu division since last evening, official reports said here today.

The building housing offices of Post and Telegraph and Jammu and Kashmir Bank was extensively damaged in the explosion set off by militants at Rakiban village of Darhal town in Rajouri district last night, the reports said.

There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the explosion.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing operations against militants, Rashtriya Rifles troops killed two militants in separate encounters at Dogarian and mohra areas of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district yesterday and recovered an AK-type rifle, two AK-magazines, 58 rounds of AK ammunition, two handgrenades, two rifle grenades and some explosives.

Another militant was killed in an encounter with BSF personnel at Hauli in Budhal area of rajouri district today. One AK-47 rifle, one radio set, assorted ammunition and explosives were recovered from the slain militant, reports said.

Two militants were injured in a fierce exchange of fire with Army men in Rapri gali of Pir Panjal ranges in Rajouri last evening, reports said. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of action.

URI: The spokesman said security forces killed a militant during a search operation at Pit-Deo village,5 km north of Kandi area in Rajouri district. An AK-47 rifle, one wireless set, assorted ammuntition and explosives were recovered from the slain militant.

Abductors free BJP leader’s son

SRINAGAR, Sept 18 (PTI) — The 34-hour-long hostage drama involving the kidnapping of the seven-year-old son of a BJP leader ended here this evening when the boy was set free by his kidnappers after receiving a hefty sum as ransom.

Mr Abdul Rehman Sheikh, father of the abducted boy and BJP’s initial choice from the Anantnag parliamentary constituency who withdrew from the fray following threats from militants, told PTI here that his son, Asif, was let off by the captors after he paid them Rs 2.50 lakh as ransom demanded by them.

A weary looking Asif was not able to talk to the visitors, he said.

Senior police officers rushed to Sheikh’s house soon after the boy reached home.

Asif was kidnapped by car-borne militants around 8.30 a.m. yesterday while he was on way to his school in the Parimpora area of Srinagar.