SRINAGAR (NORTH INDIA): Nine persons including two security men and 3 militants were killed in separate incidents in Kashmir valley in the Northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir while security forces arrested 14 more militants.

Army and paramilitary forces continue to patrol the curfew bound So Pore Township in North Kashmir for the third consecutive day.

Three persons including 2 security men sustained injuries in clashes between militants and security men during the same period.

An official spokesman, meanwhile, denied reports appearing in a section of the press that 3 security men were killed in So pore township of North Kashmir.

There was no clash between the militants and security men in the curfew bound township, he said, adding that no one was injured or killed.

Giving details of the incidents, he said, however, 2 militants and 2 security personnel were killed in an encounter between militants and security men in Handwara of Kupwar district.

He said militants fired on the security forces at Handawara and intermittently on the main market in the township. As a result of this firing, head constables Ali Mohammad of the local police died on spot and 1 security personnel was also killed. Two militants were also killed in the encounter.

As a result of firing and throwing of grenades by the militants some houses and shops caught fire, the spokesman said, adding that senior govt officers have rushed to the spot to assess the situation.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 12, 1990