SRINAGAR: Twenty-five people, including 13 militants and eight Army personnel, were killed and 22 injured in stepped-up violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Two Pakistan trained militants of AlBurq outfit surrendered and 20 militants were arrested across the Valley where life was paralyzed for the second successive day due to a strike called by militants,

Meanwhile, the Pradesh Congress commenced a six day “peace march” from the Line of Control in Uri, 101 km from here.

According to a Defense Ministry spokesman here, Army Major Rajeev Laland six foreign mercenaries associated with Pakistanbased HarkatulAnsar were killed in a fierce encounter at Zainakote on the outskirts of Srinagar last week.

The encounter came following the siege of the area by the troops on Specific information provided by the locals.

The killed militants have been identified as Asadullah and Sultan (Pakistanis) and Mushtaq, Daler Khand and Jahangir (Afghans). Nationality of the sixth militant was being ascertained.

Another foreign mercenary was killed near Gander bal on the outskirts of Srinagar on Srinagar Leh road, he said. Four Army jawans were also wounded in the encounter.

 

Meanwhile, Maj Gen D.B. Shekatkar, commander of a mountain division, declared, “We shall seek and eliminate the foreign mercenaries as they have no right to live on Indian soil.”

Two Army personnel, a civilian Nissar Ahmad and a militant Rashid Ahmad were killed and seven security personnel and a bus driver injured when an improve is explosive device planted by militant son aroadat Kalan village, on the Chakoora Pulwama road, exploded after the vehicle crossed over it, a police spokesman said.

He said the vehicle was damaged in the blast, triggered off by the militants.

Four Amy personnel, including Captain Ramesh, and three militants, ‘one of them a foreign national, were killed in another encounter at Rampora ‘on the outskirts of Srinagar last week,

Seven security personnel were also wounded in the encounter which broke ‘out in the village on January 3 and lasted for nearly 28 Bouts; official Sources Said.

Six residential houses were gutted in the incident An Amy jawan was killed and three others sustained serious injuries when 4n improvised explosive device went off.

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 10, 1996