Author: Excelsior Special Correspondent
Publication: Daily Excelsior
Date: April 14, 2004
URL: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/04apr14/news.htm#2
3 militants among 7 killed in Valley
For the first time since the creasefire
between India and Pakistan came into effect last year, a Pakistani armed
intruder was killed as Army foiled the infiltration bid by the militants
to sneak into Kashmir valley from across the border.
This apart, six persons including
two soldiers and an equal number of militants were killed and five jawans
injured as ultras ambushed a vehicle and a patrol party in Kashmir valley
since last night.
Official sources said that a Pakistani
armed intruder was killed this morning as Army foiled the first infiltration
bid by militants to sneak into Kashmir valley from across the border since
the ceasefire between India and Pakistan came into effect last year.
The Pakistani infiltrator was killed
in a gunfight at Satpore in Tangdhar area of Kupwara district of North
Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.
He said troops observed some movement
of militants trying to sneak into the Valley from across the border and
laid an ambush.
The ultras opened fire on seeing
the troops and in the ensuing exchange of fire, the unidentified militant
was killed and an AK rifle, two magazines, 16 rounds, four grenades and
Rs 600 were recovered from him, the spokesman said.
This was the first attempt by militants
to sneak into the valley from across the border this season after the snow
on the high altitude ranges surrounding the Valley started melting.
Infiltration had come down to zero
level after India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire in November last year.
However, the Army had viewed the trend as seasonal and said the level of
infiltration could be judged once the snow starts melting throwing open
the possible infiltration routes.
Meanwhile, a Sepoy Sanjay Kumar
Chouhan was killed and another jawan, Kuldeep Singh was seriously injured
when militants opened fire on an Army petrol at village Pazalpora in Bandipora
area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir today, they said.
In another ambush, the sources said
militants targeted an Army intelligence vehicle at village Dalwach in Qazigund
area in Anantnag district of south Kashmir last night, injuring two personnel,
the sources said.
They said one more person was injured
when the vehicle in which he was travelling overturned after the driver
lost control over it.
All the three injured were shifted
to hospital, where one of them later succumbed to his injuries, the sources
said.
Two unidentified militants were
killed in separate encounters with security forces during search operations
at Kramshore and Churmujroo in Badgam district of central Kashmir, a police
spokesman said.
Two securitymen were also injured
in the Kramshore encounter, the spokesman said adding two AK assault rifles,
an under barrel grenade launcher and some ammunition were recovered from
the slain ultras.
In a broad daylight murder, the
spokesman said two unidentified militants abducted a shopkeeper Sajad Ahmad
Zargar from his house at Marjanpora in downtown Srinagar this morning and
later killed him in nearby Chirgari Mohalla locality of Kawdara around
11 a m.
The motive behind his killing was
not known immediately, he said.
The sources said a civilian Nazir
Ahmad was killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on him at Wachkoo
village of Shopian in Pulwama district of South Kashmir.
Ahmad reportedly ventured out of
his house last night and fell to the bullets of unidentified gunmen. He
was rushed to Srinagar's SMHS hospital where he succumbed to his injuries
this morning.
However, residents of the village
held protest demonstration today alleging that the deceased, a mentally
retarded person was allegedly killed by security force personnel without
any provocation.
Police recovered the body of one
Gulzar Ahmad Kasana from the forest area of Marthed-Chakoora in Anantnag
district of south Kashmir, the spokesman said.
Security forces recovered one .375
bore rifle, its one magazine and 18 rounds near Levdara from Qazigund area
of Anantnag district, the spokesman said.
