8 militants and two members of a family among 12 killed in J

Srinagar, Sep 21 (UNI) A self styled Divisional Commander (DC) and seven other militants and two members of a family were among 12 people killed and ten others wounded in the stepped up violence in the Jammu and Kashmir.

An official spokesman said a bomb blast took place in the shop of one Mohammad Aslam at Mandi in Poonch district of Jammu region resulting in on the spot death of shop owner, his sons Mohmmad Sharief and Aijaz Ahmad.

He said militants hurled a hand grenade towards an army vehicle at Chndloora Gulmarg, about 40 km from here this afternoon. The grenade exploded causing injuries to three students and two soldiers. One of the injured student Hilal Ahmad Ahangar died on way to hospital.

In yet another incident an encounter took place between militants and security forces at Boniyar Lachipora near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector today.

So far four militants have been killed a defence ministry spokesman said adding that the operation was still going on.

He said LeT militant Waleed, a Pakistani resident, was killed by Rashitriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir police in a joint operation today. One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.

The official spokesman said security forces gunned down two Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in an encounter at Mahore. One Village Defence Committee member was also injured in the shootout.

He said the area was cordon off and the operation was going on when the reports last came in.

A self styled DC of Al-Badr outfit was killed by the security forces in an encounter during a search operation at Majakote. Two security personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire, he said adding that one AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

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