Three killed, seven injured in north Kashmir

Baramulla, Dec 22 (UNI) Two people were killed and seven others, including four security personnel, wounded in a firing incident in Sopore in this north Kashmir district this afternoon, official sources said.

Militants also shot dead one person in the district last night.

The sources said militants attacked a security force convoy at the main chowk in Sopore at 1430 hrs, shortly after friday prayers were over.

The security forces retaliated and in the shootout, two persons Mohammad Ashraf and Shabir Ahmad Khan were killed.

Three other pedestrians identified as Fayaz Ahmad, Mohammad Ashraf and Haji Mohammad Abdullah Kababi were injured. The injured were admitted to hospitals.

An Army spokesman in Srinagar said four army personnel were also injured in the incident.

An eyewitnees said that people in the area, including the shopkeepers, ran for safety security personnel took position behind the walls. Traffic was suspended for about two hours after the incident.

Militants shot at and wounded one Abdul Hamid Bhat at Ajas, Bandipora in this district last night. Bhat, a surrendered militant, was rushed to hospital where he died, the sources added.

UNI XC/BAS RR HT1618