SRINAGAR: Fifteen militants, including two foreign mercenaries, who had given up violence, were among 22 people killed, while security forces arrested 16 militants in the Kashmir Valley since last Tuesday.

Militants caused five explosions and made an abortive attempt to blast the ‘Sher e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in the Valley during the period, an official spokesperson said here last week. Two Afghan militants were killed in a fierce encounter with Army troops in frontier district of Kupwara on Wednesday. Two militants also laid down their arms during the operation, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.

Three AK assault rifles, nine magazines, 130 rounds, a pistol with two magazines and five hand grenades were seized from the site of the encounter.

‘The spokesperson said two Pakistan trained militants were killed and three others were arrested during search operations in Baramulla and Anantnag districts on Wednesday. Three AK assault rifles, a magazine, 40 rounds and a 12bore gun were seized from the killed and arrested militants. Militants shot dead Farooq Ahmad Chat, reportedly a surrendered militant, in his house at Kadal ibal Pampore in Pulwant district of South Kashmir early on Thursday, the official spokesperson said. The body of another person identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Shah was picked up from Alaipora in the same district on Thursday afternoon.

Militants gunned down two people identified as Faroog Ahmad Bhat and Nazir Ahmad Dar in their village at Ashaji pora in Anantnag district of south Kashmir; Official reports reaching here said that the two had earlier surrendered. ‘The militants abducted and later shot dead Ghulam Qadir Wagay at village Hangal Buch near Batapora in Pulwama district. The victim was a resident of Rebban Shopian.

Militants gunned down the two abducted surrendered militants in frontier district of Kupwara early on Thursday.

The two, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani and Ghulam Rasool Mir, were abducted along with two others from Wavoora by unidentified militants. The other two escaped from the clutches of the abductors.

‘Two militants each were killed in Separate encounters with security forces at Doodmarg Tral and Rangwar Varnow on Wednesday, the spokesperson said. A rifle, a wireless Set and some ammunition were recovered from them.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 6, 1996