3 soldiers, 6 ultras among 10 killed in J

Srinagar, Aug 7 (UNI) Three security force personnel and four militants, including a self-styled HM commander, were among eight people killed. While Ultras looted cash from two houses in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said today.

They said troops of 1 Rashitriya Rifles, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a joint operation at village Sherpora, Kulgam, in south Kashmir this morning.

As the troops were about to storm a particular house, militants attacked them. The fire was returned by the security forces and in the encounter, one security jawan was killed and two others were injured.

Sources said three civilians who were taken hostage by the militants in the house. However, they were rescued, sources said.

But another report said the civilian had gone inside the house to persuade the militants to surrender. They were let go by the militants.

An official spokesman said the house in which militants were hiding was damaged and caught fire in the encounter. It is believed that both the militants have been killed as there was no return fir from the house.

Two soldiers were killed and another was wounded when militants ambushed a security force patrol party at Waripora Qazigund in Anantnag district this morning. Militants later managed to escape, they said.

An official spokesman said security forces killed a militant in an encounter at Machil in north Kashmir while one HM militant was arrested at Shopian.

Security forces however, killed two militants in an encounter at Zaripora and Kulgam last night. The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants, sources said. The slain militants, included a self styled Battalion Commander Moteen Ahmad of Hizbul Mujahideen.

A militant of Harkat-e-Jehad-Islami was also gunned down by the security forces at Kishtwar in Jammu region last night.

They said one Ghulam Ahmad Nengroo was killed by militants after his abduction at Kulgam early this morning.

Spokesman said a group of militants entered the houses of Haji Ghulam Qadir and Anayat Ullah and looted cash Rs 35,000.

UNI BAS DKA KP2128