Saturday, October 1 2005 19:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Seven militants and a woman were among nine persons killed and four women injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir where security forces busted two hideouts and seized a huge cache of arms and explosives since yesterday (Sept 30, 2005).

In a major encounter, three militants of Lashker-e-Toiba (let) outfit were killed during search operations at village nowbugh-larnoo in kokernag area of south kashmir anantnag district last night, a police spokesman said today (Oct 1, 2005).

A civilian Ghulam Ahmad Kumar, an employee in Public Works Department, and a 50-year old woman identified as Noori were killed and three women Rehmati, her daughter Raja and Kulsooma received bullet injuries as they were caught in the crossfire between the militants and the security forces during the operation, the spokesman said.

While Kumar had died of bullet injuries, Noori had apparently suffered a heart attack as no bullet or splinter injury was visible on her body, official sources said.

The spokesman said three AK rifles, six magazines, 80 rounds, two grenades and a wireless set were recovered from the slain militants one of whom was identified as Mohammad Ashraf Koka.

The sources said security forces shot dead a Pakistani militant Jaffer Shaheen of LeT group in an encounter at Qunees village in Bandipora area of North Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Rafiq Ahmad Wagay, a self-styled area commander of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen was killed in another encounter with security forces at Wangam area of Anantnag last night. A pistol, a wireless set and a hand grenade were recovered from him, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said security forces killed one more militant in a gun battle during search operations at Allipora village of central Kashmir's Badgam district last night. A pistol, a hand grenade and a mobile phone were seized from him.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant identified as Javed Ahmad Reshi alias Jai Chas was killed in an inter-gang rivalry in Devsar area of Anantnag district yesterday, he said.

The spokesman said militants barged into the house of one Mohammad Ramzan at Aal village in Doda district last night and severely beat his sister-in-law Zahoora Begum.

Begum suffered injuries and was later hospitalized, he said.

The spokesman said security forces busted a militant hideout at Barshala in Surankote area of Rajouri district last night which led to the recovery of rocket projectile gun (RPG), two RPG shells, 10 RPG boosters, two hand grenades, five under barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) grenades, five kgs RDX and 109 pika rounds.

Another militant hideout was busted in Morha Krog area of Kandi in the same district, the spokesman said adding two AK rifles, two magazines, a shawl and a jacket were recovered from the hideout.