Police constable, 2 militants among 4 killed, 8 injured in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 30 (UNI) A constable of Jammu and Kashmir police and two militants were among four people killed and eight others were injured in militanat attacks in the Kashmir valley overnight.

Official sources said an explosion took place in a music shop at Batmaloo this afternoon, injuring three people.

The injured were hospitalised, sources said adding that it was believed that a grenade lobbed from outside caused the blast.

In the other incident, militants hurled a hand grenade towards a police vehicle at the busy Naaz crossing.

Three police constables and two civilians were injured in the blast, the sources said, adding that one of the injured constable, Ghulam Nabi, later succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.

Four tourists from Gujarat were killed and six others injured in a similar grenade blast at Batpora on May 25 evening.

A defence spokesman said troops of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Border Security Force (BSF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint operation at Tral, about 40 km from here, early this morning following information that some militants were hiding there.

He said when the troops were about to storm a particular house, militants opened fire and also lobbed hand grenades.

They retaliated after militants refused to surrender, he said, adding that it is believed that two to three militants were inside the house.

Two militants were killed and two Ak rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered, official sources said.

A body was also fished out from river Jehlum at Kokernag in south Kashmir today.

UNI BAS MA VC1945