Author: Excelsior Correspondent
Publication: Daily Excelsior
Date: May 10, 2003
URL: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03may10/news.htm#3
Four persons including two Pakistani
militants, a Village Defence Committee (VDC) member and a civilian were
killed and a militant was arrested in separate incidents across Rajouri
and Udhampur districts today.
Meanwhile, Romeo Force, in a major
success, today destroyed 15 hideouts of the militants at Hill Kaka in Surankote
tehsil in Poonch district. Over 3800 kg ration besides arms and ammunition
were recovered from the hideouts.
Troops, assisted by police, launched
a search operation in a forest area near Shahdara Sharief in Thanna Mandi
area of Rajouri district this morning after receiving a specific input
about movement of the militants. A contact with the militants was established
by security personnel this afternoon, official sources said.
They said a fierce exchange of gun-fighting
took place between the two sides for about three hours in which two militants
were killed. Two to three other ultras managed to escape during the gun-battle,
they added.
Slain militants have been identified
as Abu Gazi and Hamza Asgari, both Pakistanis. They were activists of Hizbul
Mujahideen outfit. Recoveries made from the scene of encounter included
two AK-56 rifles, three magazines, 76 rounds, one wireless set, two hand
grenades and two kg explosives. Army didn't suffer any casualties in the
operation, the sources said.
Re-enforcement of army was rushed
to the spot to continue searches for the absconding militants. However,
they couldn't be traced.
Meanwhile, three militants last
night struck in the house of one Mohd Hussain at village Argi, Morha Phagla
under the jurisdiction of Rajouri police station late last night and kidnapped
Hussain. The militants whisked away the civilian to an isolated area where
he was tortured and mercilessly beaten-up for about one hour.
Later, the militants shot Mohd Hussain
dead and escaped from the spot. They left behind a hand written slip describing
the civilian as a 'BSF informer'. Body of Hussain was recovered from a
field this morning. It was sent for post- mortem by police and later handed
over to the victim's family members.
No reasons could be ascertained
immediately behind killing of the civilian, the sources said, adding a
case in the killing has been registered at Rajouri police station for investigations.
A VDC member was reportedly killed
by the suspects at village Ram Rachna in Latti area of Udhampur district
this afternoon. Identified as Girdhari Lal son of Labhu Ram, a resident
of Dewana village, the VDC member had gone to Ram Rachna area for grazing
cattle.
It couldn't be ascertained as to
how the VDC member was killed and who were the killer. Police, however,
didn't rule out the hand of militants behind the killing.
Army today apprehended a militant,
Mohd Farooq son of Ghulam Hassan, a resident of village Gulathi. Two hand
grenades, two sticks of PE-3A explosives and some documents were recovered
from his possession, the sources said, adding that Farooq was being questioned
to ascertain his links with the militants.
Meanwhile, Romeo Force destroyed
15 hideouts overnight in Hill Kaka area in Surankote tehsil in Poonch district
and recovered 3800 kg ration besides arms, ammunition and explosives. Sources
said the militants had deserted these hideouts following mounting pressure
by the army personnel.
Meanwhile, security forces today
arrested 17 Bangladeshi nationals when they had infiltrated into Indian
territory, breaching the international border at Alla Mai Di Kothi in Kanachak
sector.
