Six people held hostage in Jammu
Just
in:
One
hostage
is
believed
to
have
been
rescued
so
far.
Heavy
firing
is
still
going
on.
11:07
AM
8/27/2008
Srinagar, Aug 27: At least five people including a Junior Commissioned Officer have been killed in the ongoing gun battle between militants and the security forces in Jammu's Bantalab area. Two civilians have been injured and the terrorists - holed up in the Chinore residential locality in Bantalab - have taken six people, including four children hostage. Fierce firing is going on between the army and the terrorists holed up in the house. The firing happened around 5:45 am on Wednesday, Aug 27 morning.
Police said that a group of three to four terrorists, travelling in an auto rickshaw, entered the Mishriwala area on Tuesday, Aug 26 and opened fire at a police barrier. They then entered the Chinore residential area in Bantalab and are still holed up there.
The terrorists are believed to be from the same group that infiltrated into India from the International border via Kanachak in the Akhnoor sector on Tuesday, Aug 26. Cops said the terrorists, dressed in army attire and carrying AK-47 assault rifles, entered a house in Chinore and hid there.
On their way to the house, they shot dead a civilian and the driver of the autorickshaw they were travelling in. A high alert have been sounded in Jammu due to the infiltration. The Border Security Force (BSF), along with police and Indian army had launched a massive manhunt for the militants, who had entered the Indian territory at Kanachak, about 20 km north of Jammu, after cutting the barbed wire fence.
The BSF officials said that the situation is serious. The intruders sneaked into the Indian side under the cover of fire, which was probably provided by the Pakistani Rangers. Security agencies are worried in view of the situation in Jammu.
On
Tuesday,
Aug
26
in
yet
another
ceasefire
violation
Pak
army
opened
firing
at
the
International
Border
in
Jammu.
This
is
the
third
ceasefire
violation
after
a
flag
meeting
was
held
between
Indian
and
Pakistani
defence
officials
to
ease
the
simmering
border
tensions
on
July
28.
Ceasefire
was
declared
by
India
and
Pakistan
in
2003.
10:11
AM
8/27/2008
OneIndia News