two Hizb ultras among 7 killed, arms seized in J

Srinagar, May 28 (UNI) Seven people, including two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, were killed while the security forces seized arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, a police spokesman said today.

An unidentified gunman today shot dead a person at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura here where he was admitted with bullet wounds some days ago.

SKIMS Director Dr Sheikh Jalal-ud-din told UNI that Reyaz Ahmed, a resident of Batpora in north Kashmir's Sopore area, was admitted to the multi-specialty hospital on May 19 with multiple bullet wounds.

The doctors immediately operated upon him and he was now convalescing in ward number 3 of the hospital, the Director said, adding Reyaz Ahmed was to be discharged from SKIMS tomorrow.

But, today an unidentified gunman appeared at the ward and fired two bullets in Reyaz Ahmed's chest and head point blank.

He died on the spot, Dr Jalal-ud-din said.

As the gunshots were heard, the security staff rushed towards the ward, but the killer had managed to escape.

Police and hospital security have sealed all the exit points and launched a hunt to nab the gunman, the Director said.

The spokesman said security forces shot dead two Hizb ultras in an encounter in central Kashmir district of Badgam this afternoon.

He said the security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, on a tip off, launched an operation at Ratsuna village under the Beerwah Police station in Badgam district early this morning.

On seeing the forces, the militants opened fire which was effectively retaliated, the spokesman added.

He said two Hizb militants identified as Mehraj-ud-din, a resident of Wangam, Beerwah and Ashiq Hussain, a resident of Dansar, Beerwah, were killed in the gunfight.

The spokesman said two AK rifles, three magazines and 50 rounds of ammunition were seized from the slain ultras.

He said the house of Ali Mohammad Khan and Mohammad Akbar was partially damaged in the gun-battle.

Militants today barged into the house of Ghulam Ahmed Najar at Mumkak, Sopore and fired indiscriminately upon the residents, resulting in an on the spot death of his son Fayaz Ahmad Najar and injury to another Javed Ahmed Najar.

Javed has been admitted to a hospital in a critical condition, the spokesman said.

He said an explosive device went off in the Kitsan forest area in Bandipora resulting in the death of Mohammad Yousuf Chechi and injuries to another.

Militants today shot at and critically wounded Bashir Ahmed Bhat at Shool Kulgam in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.

Bhat was immediately rushed to a hospital, but succumbed on way, the spokesman said.

Police today recovered a body believed to be of a militant from Arhangi Dhok in Thanamandi area of Poonch district.

Security forces seized seven AK rifles in the forest area of Khari Nallah in Surrankote area of Poonch district last evening.

Troops busted two militant hideouts at village Nihal Mahore in Udhampur district and seized 200 gm of explosive, one pressure cooker and utensils from the spot.

UNI AG FMH SB DB1955