Shopian (J&K): The 30-hour-long hostage drama ended on October 21 with security forces blowing up a house killing two holed up Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants after rescuing, without any harm, eight civilians held captive by them in Pulwama district in a pre-dawn assault.

Bodies of both the militants, identified as Abu Samak Haider, a resident of Pakistan, and his local associate Shakeel Ahmad Bhat of Dabpora-Shopian were recovered from the debris of the house, which was blasted by the troops this afternoon (Oct 21) after securing the safe release of the hostages, official sources said.

Security forces fired mortars blowing up the house after militants rejected the offer of surrender and resorted to heavy firing on the joint troops of Rashtriya Rifles, police and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) from inside when they zeroed-in on them, the sources said.

The troops, who had laid a tight cordon around the house since yesterday (Oct 20) morning, fired mortars during the six-hour standoff as a result of which the house collapsed killing both the militants who were later identified as activists of JeM. Some arms and ammunition were also recovered from the debris.

Earlier, security forces lobbed tear gas shells into the house to facilitate the rescue of the hostages, including a local Muslim cleric.

A police spokesman put the number of hostages rescued by the troops at 12, including four members of the family residing in the house.

He said some respectable persons had volunteered into the house to persuade the militants to surrender on October 20 but were taken hostage by the trapped militants.

PTI