SRINAGAR: At Least four militants of the Harkatul Ansar, including its chief, Javed Akhtar alias Sikander, have been killed in a powerful mine blast at a residential house in Ashashpora locality at the out skins of Anantag district.
The police here said that it had recovered four bodies of charred beyond recognition from the site of the blast. However, the identity of the four persons could not be ascertained.
According to a statement issued by the Harkatul Ansar, its chief, Javed Akhtar alias Sikandar, was among the four militants Killed while experimenting on an improvised explosive device.
‘The killing took place nearly a day after the Harkat disclosure of a rescue operation “for the safe return of the four western hostages.”
‘Twelve persons, including six militants, were killed while security forces nabbed 14 militants and an ultra-surrendered in the Kashmir valley. A powerful blast rocked women’s college, housing zoology and botany departments, at Maulana Azad road in Srinagar. ‘The building caught fire and was gutted, an official spokesman said. ‘The body of an unidentified person was recovered by police from Kolitang and Pulwama district of South Kashmir last week, official sources said, adding it bore bullet wounds. He said an unidentified militant was killed when he tied to escape from the security dragnet in Badgam district of central Kashmir last week. ‘Security forces also gunned down a militant and captured another in an encounter at Kadalbal Pampore in Pulwama district. Clouding a taxi He said four persons, driver were killed, when militants opened fire on a taxi which was on its way from Awantipora to Pulwama near village Malangpora Puchal in Pulwama district.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1996
