Four more militants killed by security forces in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 8 (UNI) Security forces killed four militants in three different encounters in the Kashmir valley overnight.

With these killings, a total of 50 militants have been killed by the security forces during the first 25 days of holy month of Ramzan.

Eleven security force personnel, including two Army Majors, lost their lives in these encounters.

A senior police officer said Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and Army launched a joint operation at Mahipora, Kulgam, in south Kashmir late last night following a tip off about the presence of militants there.

As the security forces were sealing the area, militants opened fire from a house. Later reinforcement from 9 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 161 RR and 5 CRPF camps was rushed there to plug all exit points.

He said when the security forces tried to storm the house, militants again opened fire. The fire was returned and in the gun battle two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) identified as Sartaj Ahmad alias Tabreez and Ashiq Ahmad Padru alias Janbaz were killed.

He said Sartaj was involved in several militancy related incidents, including killing of a Special Police Officer (SPO).

Kupwara, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) said troops of 28 RR and SOG conducted a joint operation in the woods at Gangbug.

During the operation an encounter took place in which a foreign militant of Pakistan based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) Abu Usman was killed.

A defence spokesman said troops of 24 RR gunned down a militant at Branwar, Gandarbal during a search operation today.

UNI