3 security personnel, top militant killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, June 26 (UNI) Two soldiers, a head constable of Jammu and Kashmir police and a top militant commander were killed while a large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered in the valley overnight.

A defence ministry spokesman said troops of 23 Punjab and 2 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) launched a joint operation at Gamru village in Bandipora early this morning following a tip-off about the presence of militants.

During the operation, an encounter took place in which one militant was killed. An AK rifle, four magazines and 58 rounds were recovered from the slain militant who was identified as Ishtiyaq Ahmad, a self styled Battalion commander of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM).

Two soldiers of 23 Punjab also lost their lives, official sources said.

They said militants had kidnapped Head Constable Farooq Ahmad Tantray at Naibug, Tral, about 35 km from here in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama on the night of June 24.

Police recovered his bullet riddled body from the same area this morning.

The Special Operation Group (SOG), arrested a militant Farid Khwaja in general area Trehgam (Kupwara) along with one AK 47 rifle with three magazines and 90 rounds, the sources added.

In an another operation by 22 RR a militant Tariq Ahmed Rathar, was arrested at Sopore in Baramulla district last night.

UNI