Three militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 5 (UNI) Three militants, including one who had killed more than half a dozen security personnel, were killed in the Kashmir valley overnight, an official spokesman said today.

He said troops of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police laid an ambush at Peethkoot village, Bandipora, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir district of Baramulla.

He said after a long wait, militants finally arrived in the area.

However, when asked to surrender, militants opened fire which was returned by the troops and in the ensuing gun battle one militant was killed.

Later, the slain militant was identified as Guladeen Khan alias Mosa, a resident of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He was involved in the killing of state police and CRPF personnel at Batmaloo, Dalgate, Lal Chowk and near Shakti Sweets in the city during the past six months.

He was also involved in other militancy related incidents.

One SOG jawan Balraj Singh was injured who has been hospitalised.

One pistol with magazine and two hand grenades were recovered from the slain militant.

Security forces and police also killed two militants of Al-Badr outfit identified as Abu Omar and Abu Tarab in an encounter at Rafiabad in the Baramulla district. The encounter ensued after a joint search party was attacked by the militants hiding there. Two ak rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.

A report from Baramulla said security forces and police launched a joint search operation at village Ajar Bandipora, this morning.

The operation was launched after a tip off was received about the presence of militants there.

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