Srinagar: Four young women, who were abducted and later tortured by militants in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, were rescued by troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), official sources said in Srinagar.

A group of militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen intercepted four young girls in Chniyas area of Gandoh Tehsil in Doda district a few days back and later abducted them, they said.

Blaming them as informers of the security forces, militants tortured, beat and molested them and later tonsured their heads, sources said.

The RR troops later launched a rescue operation and after a brief gunbattle managed to secure release of the women from the captivity of militants yesterday (Sep 4, 2004), they said.

These four victims have been identified as Naseema Bano, Manira Bano, Nasreena Begum and Shabina of Chinayas village, they said.

The four women are currently under the protection of security forces in their village.