6 killed, 9 injured in Kashmir

Six killings, seven surrenders, four captures and nine injuries -- that, in a sentence, sums up what happened in the Kashmir valley the last 24 hours.

The nine -- all security personnel -- were injured when a hand grenade, lobbed by militants, exploded inside their vehicle at Ramnagar Friday morning. Two of the injured are stated to be in critical condition.

An official spokesman said security forces killed a militant during a search operation at Kachwari Thursday evening. One AK-56 rifle, three magazines, two hand grenades and one wireless set were recovered during the operation.

In another incident, militants shot dead Mohammad Mir, a surrendered militant's father, at Haratang Pazal, while civilian Ghulam Jeelani was abducted and later killed at Aragam in Baramulla district Thursday evening.

In Inderwan, militants entered the house of a civilian, Bashir Ahmad Khan, and shot him dead. Another civilian, Ghulam Hassan, was killed at Sogam.

A surrendered militant, Shabir Ahmad, was injured when unidentified persons resorted to indiscriminate firing in Kupwara.

The spokesman said militants attacked security forces at three places in Kupwara on Thursday evening. The forces retaliated, but there was no report of casualties.

Militants also attacked a civilian house at Sarkooli where three surrendered militants were staying. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Panic gripped Rambagh on the Srinagar-Airport road on Thursday evening when militants lobbed a hand grenade towards a police guard. However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded without causing any damage.

Troops killed a militant at Badgam in an encounter the same evening.

The spokesman also said that seven hardcore militants belonging to different outfits surrendered in Trehgam. They handed in six AK-56 rifles, 24 magazines, 521 rounds, one sniper rifle and five grenades.

Four others were nabbed in overnight operations across the valley.

UNI