Srinagar: Militants on October 20 took hostage four civilians who were sent by security forces inside a house to persuade them to surrender in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said in Srinagar.

Security forces, during combing operations in village Thraren in Shopian area, came under fire from militants hiding in a house.

In a bid to avoid loss of life, the security personnel sent four civilians inside the house to persuade the ultras to surrender who took them as captives, the sources said.

PTI