Two militants among 3 killed, HUJI ultra captured in J

Srinagar, May 14 (UNI) Three people, including two ultras of the Hizbul Mujahideen, were killed while security forces apprehended a Harkat-ul-Jehadi-Islami militant in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

He said security forces shot dead two Hizb militants at Hadigam village in Kulgam area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district yesterday evening during a search operation.

Two AK rifles, four magazines, 80 rounds and a hand grenade were seized from the slain ultras identified as Shahbaz Malik and Mohammad Shafi Khanday.

A report from Baramulla said massive protests erupted at Kunan Poshpora in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir today after a 32-year-old man was allegedly killed by troops in an ambush last night.

Sources said the troops had laid an ambush at Kunan Poshpora village after they received information that militants were hiding there.

They said troops allegedly opened fire on a civilian, Mohammad Abdullah Sheikh, as he was walking through the area at night.

He was allegedly killed on the spot.

The villagers woke up in the morning to see a body lying in the area. Later, they staged a protest.

The protestors dispersed only after an assurance by the police that they will ''thoroughly'' investigate the matter.

The demonstrators claimed that Sheikh was mentally retarded and could have strayed into the ambush area accidentally.

Kunan Poshpora was in news in early 1990s when the sleepy hamlet allegedly witnessed the mass rape of women during a cordon-and-search operation by the 4 Rajputana Rifles of the Army's 68 Mountain Brigade on the night of February 23 and 24 in 1991.

The spokesman said security forces apprehended a militant of Harkat-ul-Jehadi-Islami militant outfit during a search operation at Zansar Chatroo village in Doda district last night and seized one .303 rifle, one magazine and five rounds from him.

UNI AG FMH PK VC1930