Stepped up violence ahead of RD left 6 Let,constable dead in Kashmir

Srinagar Jan 21 (UNI) In stepped up violence ahead of Republic Day (RD), six militants of Pakistan-based a Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and a police constable were killed and two soldiers, including an officer, were injured in the Kashmir valley.

A joint operation was launched by Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and 30 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) following a tip-off about the presence of militants in Parray Mohalla Mandigam, Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara on January 19, Superintendent of Police Dr Haseeb Mughal said.

He said when the house-to-house search was going on, militants hiding in the house of one Ashiq Hussain Parray, opened fire Dr Muhal said reinforcement was rushed from 22 RR and cordon around the particular house was further tightened after residents in nearby houses, were rescued to safer places.

He said all the civilians included children, elderly persons and ill people were evacuated and their cattle were also shifted to safe places.

The SP said the holed up militants were given an offer that their lives will be spared if they lay down their arms and ammunition.

He said during the encounter, which ended today, two soldiers, including an officer were injured. The injured were hospitalised.

All the militants were killed, he said adding some houses and cowshed were damaged in the encounter.

Three AK 47 rifles, 10 AK magazines, 15 AK rounds and six hand grenades were recovered from the slain militants.

Locals, however, alleged that security forces used mortars and other explosive material to blast the house.

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