Militants strike -- 18 die in a single day in Kashmir
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Srinagar, March 8: In stepped up violence, eight militants, four Army troops, two policemen and a Congress activist were among 18 people killed in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening.

Five Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami and Lashker-e-Toiba militants, suspected to be involved in last week's massacre of 15 policemen and two medical employees in Rajouri district, were killed in a fierce gunbattle with troops at Dofali village in Rajouri-Poonch sector today, an official spokesman said.

Four Army jawans were also killed in the gunfight, he said, adding a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including seven grenades and four AK rifles, were recovered from the scene.

Two police constables were killed by militants at Dalgate and Maisuma in Srinagar today, the spokesman said.

Ultras barged into a house of one Tej Ram at Hadook village in Doda district and shot him, his wife and son dead, he said, adding in the same district, militants gunned down a newly-elected villages sarpanch at Maitra.

Two ultras were killed when militants made an abortive bid to attack an Army post at Jarna Wali Gali in Surankote.

Congress worker Mohammad Ishaq Mir was shot dead by unidentified militants at Magam village in Badgam district, the spokesman said.

Militants fired at Ishaq, nephew of senior Congress leader and former MP Mir Magami, from point blank range killing him on the spot.

Militants attacked an army convoy at Malpora on theinagar-Jammu National Highway forcing jawans to return the fire in which an ultra was killed.

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.