Two militants killed in Valley

Srinagar: An active and former militant were killed while unidentified gunmen made an abortive bid at a paramilitary CRPF and police patrol in Pulwama and Baramulla districts in Kashmir valley, official sources told Saturday.

They said that unidentified gunmen barged inside the house of Showkat Ahmad Rather son of Master Mohammad Abdullah at Gravgund last night and opened fire at him. Showkat was seriously injured and was shifted to SKIMS here for specialized treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on wee hours today, they added.

Showkat, sources said, had recently returned home through Nepal route and had surrendered before the police. He was released after serving jail term, they said.  “The motive behind the killing of is still not clear, “a police officer said. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the killing.

Unidentified gunmen hurled a grenade towards a patrolling party of CRPF and police near old Chowk Kakapora town in the district at around 1130 hours, they said.

The device missed the target and exploded inside the premises of the Kakapora police post, which was destroyed in an arson incident in September this year during unrest, they added.

There was no loss of life or property reported in the incident but the loud explosion caused panic among the pedestrians and uniformed men who ran for cover.

Meanwhile, an unidentified militant was killed in an ongoing encounter in Sopore twon of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Official sources said police and troops of 22 Rashtriya Rifles launched a joint cordon-and-search operation at Shalimar Colony in apple town this afternoon. An encounter ensued, in which army claimed that one militant was killed. “One militant has been killed so far,” Lt Col JS Brar, defence ministry spokesman based here.