Seven dead, 38 hurt in J&K blasts
From Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Nov 17 — Seven persons were killed and 38 injured in a series of four explosions in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

Four civilians were killed and one injured when a device planted by suspected militants went off at Madana-Surankote in Poonch district this morning. The police said three of the dead were identified as Abdul Rahman Joo, Mohammad Bashir and Mohammad Rashid.

Three persons including a woman, were killed and 35 injured when militants hurled a grenade near a school at Dooru in Anantnag district yesterday. One of those killed died on the spot. Two succumbed to injuries in hospital. At least 10 persons seriously injured are undergoing treatment at SMHS Hospital and Bone and Joints Hospital at Srinagar. Sixteen are undergoing treatment at the District Hospital, Anantnag.

Mr Farooq Ahmad Khan, SSP, Anantnag, told TNS that militants hurled a grenade on a group of students and parents of examinees taking examination at the school at about 4 p.m. yesterday. Two of those killed in the incident have been identified as Jana, wife of Nissar Khan, and Ashiq Hussain Wani.

Two SPOs or counter-insurgents were injured when an IED planted by militants exploded on Gonde-Dachna Aragam Road in Bandipore area of Baramula district. The vehicle in which the two former militants were travelling was damaged as a result of the explosion that took place yesterday, police sources said.

Another explosion, occurred in a paddy field in Drigam village of Budgam district in central Kashmir. However, no damage was caused.

The police said two foreign militants, including a 'district commander' of the Hizbul Mujahideen, were killed in an encounter at Malut-Leasan in Rajouri district. The 'district Commander' has been identified as Sardar Ibrahim Abdullah of Pakistan. Two assault rifles, six magazines, and eight hand grenades were recovered from the encounter site.

Militants shot dead Bashir Ahmad Bangroo in Eidgah area of Srinagar yesterday. He is reported to have been a surrendered militant. The police recovered the body of Mohammad Aslam Shah of Marhang Shopian in Pulwama district yesterday from a field in the same area. He is suspected to have been hanged to death by militants.

The security forces recovered 2 kg of explosives and 30 rounds of ammunition from a hideout in Anantnag district. In another search, seven remote control led devices, four hand grenades, four rifle grenades and 15 kg of explosive and other ammunition were recovered in Dardpora area of Kupwara district. Two hand grenades were found at a house in Bagyas in Chatabal area of the capital.

The security forces apprehended two Pakistani mercenaries identified as Nazir Hussain and Tariq during search operations at Kotranka village last evening. Two pistols and an assault rifle were recovered from the duo who were involved in a number of militancy-related incidents in the border district, adds PTI.

An unidentified body was found at Turmargali in the frontier district of Kupwara. It bore marks of bullet wounds.