J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

3 mercenaries shot in encounter
JAMMU, July 14 — Three foreign mercenaries were killed today in a joint operation launched by the men of the Romeo Force and the police near Darhal in Rajouri district. One mercenary was wounded.

Leh curfew continues
SRINAGAR, July 14 — Leh and its adjoining areas remained under curfew for the second day today with the police and paramilitary forces patrolling deserted streets to maintain peace in the wake of gunning down of three Buddhist monks by the militants.

3 mercenaries shot in encounter
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 14 — Three foreign mercenaries were killed today in a joint operation launched by the men of the Romeo Force and the police near Darhal in Rajouri district. One mercenary was wounded.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said the three mercenaries belonged to the pro-Pak Hizbul-Mujahideen outfit and hailed from Karachi province of Pakistan.

He said on a specific information the troops cordoned off a forest belt near Darhal and an encounter took place. One militant was killed and the rest escaped to another forest area. The troops chased them through the jungles and eliminated two more militants.

Those killed were identified as Amir Hanza, Masood Sartaz and the identity of the third slain rebel was being ascertained. Three assault rifles, nine magazines, eight hand grenades, 135 rounds of AK ammunition and one radio set were seized from the slain mercenaries.

Meanwhile, two special police officers (SPOs) and a militant were killed in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley a PTI report from Srinagar said.

Abu Hassan, a foreign mercenary, was killed in an armed clash with the police at the Krashibal area on the outskirts of Srinagar early today, an official spokesman said adding some arms and ammunition were seized.

In another encounter, SPO Shabir Ahmad Peer, alias “Jallad” was killed during search operations at Kachipora in Anantnag district of South Kashmir last night.

Peer was fired at by militants from point-blank range when he entered a house for searches, the spokesman said, adding the militants fled after the encounter.

Militants ambushed a police party at Rangpath in the Rafiabad area of Baramula district last night, killing another SPO, Salam-ud-Din.

Leh curfew continues

SRINAGAR, July 14 (PTI) — Leh and its adjoining areas remained under curfew for the second day today with the police and paramilitary forces patrolling deserted streets to maintain peace in the wake of gunning down of three Buddhist monks by the militants.

Tension has gripped the area since Monday after reports of the alleged derogatory remarks made by Ladakh Buddhist Association vice president Sonam Gombo against a religious scripture. The situation got further aggravated following the killing of the three monks by militants on Tuesday.

The authorities clamped an indefinite curfew yesterday to prevent the situation from taking an ugly turn.

The situation in Leh town was officially described as “tense but under control.”