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Army major killed in shootout near Tangmarg

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Five persons, including an army major and two militants, were killed in a shooting incident at Village Kulhama near Tangmarg in the northern Baramulla district late last evening, a senior police officer in Srinagar said.

Five soldiers were critically wounded while a bus and two houses were destroyed in the fire that followed.

The police officer told rediff.com that late last night a bus (5045-JKB) was stopped by an army patrol in Kulhama near Tangmarg, a health resort. As the soldiers opened the door to board the bus for checking, two militants inside opened fire, killing Major Bhajwa of the Rashtriya Rifles and injuring five soldiers.

The other soldiers rained bullets on the bus, killing all four occupants, including the driver and conductor.

Due to the firing, the bus caught fire and was destroyed. Sources claimed the RR later torched two houses nearby. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot from nearby camps.

Just yesterday four soldiers and three militants were killed in a fierce encounter at Hajibal in Tangmarg while five houses were destroyed in a blaze. One army officer, identified as Major A K Sharma, received serious injuries. Two militants were also killed in a fierce gun battle at Malpora Ganderbal near Srinagar.

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