Clash between militants and police in Kot Bhalwal jail

Jammu, Dec 17 (UNI) Over 15 people, including three security force personnel, were today injured in a clash between imprisoned militants and security forces in the high-security Kot Bhalwal jail premises here during a search operation.

According to reports, the security forces started the search operation in a cells of 300 militants, including 40 Pakistani mercenaries, which was strongly opposed by the inmates.

The prisoners attacked security forces with iron rods, stones and bricks and also threw boiling water and stones at them from the rooftops. The security forces resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to restore order.

''The militants pelted stones and threw hot water on the police and CRPF personnel in a bid to prevent them from entering the barracks,'' official sources said.

So far 12 militants were reported to be injured in the clashes out of which three are reported to be serious. The security personnel also sustained injuries, sources added.

Earlier, the tension prevailed in the high-security Kot Bhalwal jail as over 300 prisoners, including militants and foreign mercenaries, refused to go into their cells, protesting against jail administration orders to ''improve'' discipline in the jail campus.

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