Author: Mukhtar Ahmad
in Srinagar
Publication: Rediff
on Net
Date: November 28, 2000
Just hours after a unilateral
ceasefire came into force in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 14 people, including
four soldiers and nine militants, were killed while over a dozen security
personnel were wounded seriously in the valley in a series of blasts and
encounters.
As Day-1 of the ceasefire
- a bold step on the part of the Indian government to engage militants
in talks - came to an end, it became clear that New Delhi would now come
under fresh pressure to withdraw the Ramadan truce.
Three army soldiers were
killed and 12 others injured in a powerful landmine blast at village Kreeri
Nowpora near Dooru in southern Anantnag district late Tuesday afternoon.
Police said a bullet-proof
army vehicle hit a landmine at Kreeri village resulting in a massive blast.
Two soldiers died on the spot, while one succumbed to his injuries a little
later in a hospital.
The condition of five
of the 12 injured soldiers is critical.
The frontline Hizbul
Mujaheedin has owned responsibility for the blast.
Troops clashed with a
group of intruders at village Saujiyan in Poonch district early Tuesday
morning. Five militants, an army soldier and two civilians were killed
in the exchange of fire.
Militants this morning
opened fire on a passing army vehicle near Erin Bandipore in north Kashmir.
The troops retaliated, but nobody was injured.
In yet another encounter,
two foreign militants were killed at village Fazalabad in Poonch district.
One woman identified as Naseema Akhtar was also killed in the crossfire,
while another civilian received injuries.
A powerful blast resulted
in serious injuries to one jawan at Arnas in Udhampur district in Jammu
region.
