Congress leader, two security personnel killed in J

Srinagar, Apr 1 (UNI) Militants gunned down a Congress leader and wounded his guard while two security personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

He said Congress leader Jan Mohammad Kakroo was on way to his residence at Kanlibagh in Baramulla after offering night-long prayers at a shrine in Khwaja Bagh when militants opened fire on him at around 0730 hrs.

Sixty-year-old Kakroo died on the spot while his guard, Sonaullah, sustained bullet wounds. He was rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura here.

Police have registered a case and launched a massive hunt to nab the killers. No militant outfit has claimed the responsibility for his killing so far.

The spokesman said an encounter erupted between militants and the Army at Sheikhpora Panzulla village in Baramulla district late last night in which a soldier lost his life.

The area has been cordoned off and search operation was going on when reports last came in, he added.

Militants attacked a security forces' patrol at Kuchal Chatroo village in Doda district of Jammu region today.

The fire was retaliated and in the ensuing gun-battle, a security personnel was killed.

The gunfight was on when reports last came in.

UNI