Soldier among 6 killed, RDX seized in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, June 27 (UNI) Six people, including a soldier and an ex-special police officer were killed and three others wounded while security forces seized arms, ammunition and RDX, in Jammu and Kashmir since last 24 hours, an official spokesman said today.

An unclaimed bag at the Ram Bagh bridge here this morning threw the security forces into a tizzy and caused panic among the people.

Special dog squads and bomb disposal personnel were pressed into service to defuse what was believed to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). However, nothing was found inside the bag after a thorough check.

The spokesman said bullet-ridden bodies of an ex-SPO Fayaz Ahmad Bhat and Mohammad Rafiq Hakeem were recovered by police from Drabgam village near Rajpora in the Pulwama district today.

The two were kidnapped by the suspected militants from their residence at Wathura, Chadoora in central Kashmir district of Badgam yesterday, he added.

He said suspected militants entered the house of Ghulam Mohammad Mir at Nizampora in Kangan and fired upon his son-in-law Abdul Hamid Bhat, a soldier with the Territorial Army. He died on the spot.

His wife Posha and the house-owner were also wounded in the incident, the spokesman said, adding the security forces later conducted a search operation in the area to nab the militants responsible for the act.

Mohammad Iqbal Khan at Nowpora in Bandipora area of Baramulla district died last evening when militants open fired During the incident two pedestrians -- Mohammad Shafi Malla and Manzoor Ahmad Wani -- sustained injuries and were rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). Wani succumbed to wounds this morning.

Security forces killed a militant during an encounter at Boitengo in Sopore area of north Kashmir this afternoon, the spokesman said.

He said militants fired upon Ajaz Ahmed Najar, a salesman in a medical shop, at Batapora, Sopore in Baramulla district of north Kashmir this afternoon.

He was rushed to the Sub-District Hospital where his condition was stated to be critical and later referred to a hospital here.

Security forces busted a militant hideout at Lablotha in Banihal area of Doda district and seized ten kg of RDX, three magazines, 110 AK rounds, four detonators.

Abdul Aziz Mir, an activist of the National Conference, was abducted by the suspected militants at Arin, Bandipora in north Kashmir last evening, official sources said However, he managed to escape from the militants late last night, the sources added.

Security forces apprehended activists of the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit from Shopian town and seized two hand grenades from his possession.

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