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Militants strike in Jammu, 7 hurt

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

In a deadly spurt in violence in the troubled border state of Jammu and Kashmir, 15 persons, including 11 militants and a Border Security Force assistant commandant, were killed while 20 others were wounded in separate incidents.

Seven civilians were badly hurt when a powerful bomb exploded near Raghunath Temple in the Jammu City centre. This was the first extremist strike in the winter capital of the state. The bomb was left near a shop on Residency Road. The injured persons were shifted to the Medical College Hospital.

The explosion triggered panic with shoppers and bystanders running helter-skelter for cover. Senior police and security force officers rushed to the spot. The area was later searched, without success.

Militants set off a landmine at Village Moharipora in the southern Anantnag district late last night, killing three BSF personnel, including Assistant Commandant Ravinder Singh of 41 BN BSF, on the spot. Four others who received serious injuries were rushed to the army hospital in Srinagar. Their condition is stated to be critical.

The BSF vehicle was extensively damaged. The area was later cordoned off and searches were conducted. No one has yet owned up responsibility for the blasts.

Meanwhile, in massive searches across north Kashmir, troops killed 10 militants in two separate encounters and recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition.

In a fierce gun battle, troops shot dead six militants at Safapora near Srinagar this afternoon. Troops encircled the area in the upper reaches of Safapore when they came under heavy fire. The troops returned the fire, resulting the militants. Fighting was still in progress late at night.

Militants hurled a powerful hand-grenade on a truck at the Budgam bus stand. The grenade exploded on the road, resulting in injuries to 13 persons who were moved to hospital. The attack caused panic in the area, which had been humming with activity.

A powerful bomb exploded in a middle school at Sangla Surankote in Poonch district of Jammu division this morning, resulting in injuries to three schoolboys.

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