Jammu: It was a trauma they would have never imagined to came across. Fear could be seen on the faces of the seven hostages, including four children, who were held captives by the suspected LeT militants for 19-hours before being freed in a military operation early today.

One little child said the armed militants were in police uniform and had entered the kitchen and asked all the inmates of the house to assemble together.

"We went inside the kitchen but they got us out. They were talking and were in police uniform," the child said. They children -- Sheetal (9), Vipin (2), Ashad (7) and Kajal (4)- said they were scared and were very happy that they have been rescued. "They (militants) said we will kill you .

We pleaded not to kill us and said take all the belongings and cash but please spare us. We have small kids," a lady, who was among the hostages, said. "They then locked all of us, expect for my husband whom they kept with separately, in a room," she said.

Billo Ram, the father of the children, said, "I had lost hope. I had given up. It was God's grace that they (the children) are safe. I am also thankful to the army for getting them out."

Army's Special Forces shot dead the last of the three suspected LeT militants early today.

"The operation is over. Our Special Forces have killed third militant early today," army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel S D Goswami told PTI.

Source : PTI