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Four soldiers kidnapped in Kashmir

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Militants have abducted four armymen, including a junior commissioned officer, in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector, police sources said.

Security personnel have mounted massive searches to trace the soldiers, who have been missing in the Mayan forests near the Line of Control since Diwali night. Sources said the four were abducted while on routine patrol. Two locals accompanying the soldiers were released later.

This is the first time in 10 years that militants have kidnapped army personnel. No group has claimed responsibility for the action.

The defence ministry spokesman declined to comment on the incident.

In other incidents across the state, three persons were killed in trans-border shelling, seven others in encounters. Further, troops recovered 300 kilograms of RDX from Srinagar.

In Tangdar sector, northern Kashmir, mortar and artillery fire killed at least three persons, including an employee of the Border Roads Organisation, and injured 24 since Monday evening.

Scores of houses, including a mosque, school, sub-district hospital, ration depot, petrol pump and three vehicles were damaged in the firing, which, when reports last came in, was still continuing.

The RDX haul was from the Palpora area of the capital. Defence spokesman Major Purushottam said troops cordoned off the area on a tip-off on Tuesday morning. The explosives were buried in gunny sacks in thatched sheds.

There was enough material to make 30 powerful improvised explosive devices, the spokesman said.

Last month, troops had recovered 720 kg of RDX and plastic explosives.

In another incident, militants ambushed an Indo-Tibetan Border Police patrol at Daksum in South Kashmir Tuesday evening. In the battle that continued into the night, two ITBP personnel, including Ashok Kumar, an assistant commandant, and five militants were killed.

Searches are on in the area.

Additional reportage: UNI

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