Tuesday, November 15 2005 20:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: The gun battle between militants and security forces at Lal Chowk in the heart of city ended after 25 hours this evening with the killing of a Lashkar-e- Toiba militant and arrest of his associate, a Pakistani national.

The operation at Lal Chowk ended this evening with the killing of the holed up militant in a hotel and arrest of his associate identified as Aijaz Ahmad Bhat codenamed Abu Sumna, Director General of State Police Gopal Sharma announced at a press conference here.

While the identity of the killed militant was yet to be established, Sharma said the arrested militant was between 18 and 19 years of age and a resident of the Pakistani city of Faislabad. He is understood to have infiltrated into Kashmir after the October 8 killer quake, Sharma added.

TwoCentral Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Jawans and two civilians were killed and 21 others including seven security personnel were injured while a number of trapped civilians were rescued during the prolonged operation.

The gunbattle began around 1515 hours yesterday (Nov 14, 2005) when militants hurled a grenade at Palladium Chowk and then opened fire on the security personnel there and in the nearby Clock tower area.

They then took positions in a hotel in the locality and fired at the security forces triggering the gun battle that lasted for about 25 hours.