2 militants, SPO killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 11: Two militants and a Special Police Officer (SPO) were killed and another SPO injured in the Kashmir valley overnight, official sources said today (Mar 11, 2006).

They said Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Operation Group (SOG) of state police and the army launched a search operation at village Mansoo in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama late last night.

When the troops were sealing the village, the militants hiding there opened fire and also hurled hand grenades on the security forces.

The militants, who were repeatedly asked to surrender, continued firing from automatic weapons. The fire was returned and in the night-long fierce clash, two militants were killed. The operation was going on when the last report came in, the sources added.

Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

Militants abducted two SPOs in Anantnag district last night.

The body of one SPO was recovered this morning while another was shifted to hospital in a critical condition.

UNI