Jammu, November 11
The security forces achieved a major success when they eliminated 19 hardcore militants in three encounters in Poonch district today.

According to the police, on receipt of information the Army and the police carried out a joint operation against the ultras who were hiding at two places at Jalian and Bandi Kama Khan in the Mandi area of Poonch district. As the security forces neared the two hideouts they came under heavy fire. The security forces retaliated and killed six militants at Bandi Kama Khan and five at Jalian.

Large quantities of arms and ammunition were seized.

In another encounter at Bandi Dhara Dhulian in the Poonch district, troops gunned down eight foreign militants. The encounter was on according to initial reports.

SRINAGAR: At least three persons, including two police personnel and a civilian, were killed and three others injured while nearly 50 structures were gutted when suspected militants attacked a patrol party of SOG at Tral in Pulwama district last evening.

The police said two personnel of the SOG died on the spot and another SPO was injured when militants fired at their patrol party near general bus stand at Tral, at about 6 p.m. yesterday. Those killed were identified as Head Constable Bansi Lal and SPO Faqir Mohammad. “As the reinforcement reached the bazaar, militants fired at them and there was cross firing for some time,” a police spokesman stated here, adding that some shops caught fire and about 50 shops, including 20 ‘khokhas’ were gutted.

Ishtiyaq Ahmad was caught in the fire and received severe burn injuries, the police here said. He later died in the hospital. Two other civilians also received injuries in the incident.

The town observed a complete shutdown in protest against the police action today, reports reaching here said. The residents alleged that after about half an hour of the militants action, the SOG cordoned off the area and indulged in indiscriminate firing and set ablaze the shops. Fire Brigade personnel were not allowed by the police to enter the area, residents alleged.