Monday, June 6 2005 09:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Eight militants were gunned down by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, where ultras killed four civilians, police said in Jammu yesterday (Jun 5, 2005).

Acting on intelligence reports, police teams led by DSP K S Jasrotia launched a cordon and search operation in Jamola Khan area in Rajouri district early yesterday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Rajouri, J P Singh told sources.

After a seven-hour encounter, five ultras were killed while three others were still holed up in the area, the SSP said adding that 5 AK rifles, 15 magazines, 9 grenades, 3 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and 2 wireless sets and a large cache of ammunition and explosives was recovered.

A Special Police Officer Sabzal Khan was injured in the gun battle and was hospitalised.

The encounter was going on when reports last came in, Singh said.

Militants lobbed a grenade on a security camp located near the local branch of State Bank of India at Baramulla around 1430 hours, police said.

The device went off but caused no harm to the security jawans manning the camp.

Three militants of al-badr outfit were killed in a gun battle with security forces at Aawatkul forest area in frontier district of Kupwara yesterday, a police spokesman said.

2 AK rifles and 12 magazines were recovered from them.

Militants kidnapped and killed two persons Ghulam Hassan Qureshi and Mohammad Rafiq Lalee of Gujjar Patti Bazipora-Ajas in Baramulla district last night, the spokesman said adding bodies of the victims were recovered from the same area yesterday.

Ultras abducted and later shot dead one Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat at village Chancer-Kulgam in Anantnag district yesterday.

The victim, a resident of Ahatoo, had come to the village to meet his relatives, the police spokesman said.

Militants barged into the house of one Atta Mohammad at Sarman in Doda district last night and shot him dead. Police have launched a hunt for the killers.

Security forces and police busted three militant hideouts- one each in Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri - and recovered 3 kgs of explosives, besides other munitions.