The Hindu : Front Page : 6 civilians, jawan killed in encounter

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Monday, May 12, 2008
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6 civilians, jawan killed in encounter

Luv Puri

Two militants killed at the end of 12-hour gun-battle in J&K town; seven hostages rescued

— Photo: AP

Soldiers take position during the gun-battle in Samba on Sunday.

Samba (JAMMU AND KASHMIR): Six civilians and an Army jawan were killed and 13 people injured during a 12-hour encounter between security forces and two Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in Samba town of Jammu and Kashmir. The face-off ended just before dusk on Sunday with the killing of the two militants.

Kulbhusan, a local resident said that at 5.58 a.m. he received a call on his mobile from the house of the president of the newly constituted Indian National Democratic Party, Hoshiar Singh, that militants had attacked the house.

The militants had apparently asked for permission to enter his house, situated in the Kali Mandi colony, but when he refused they killed him, his wife Sheshi Balla and injured his daughter Bindu and relative Darshan Devi. They then took refuge in another house and took eight persons as hostages.

A combined operation was initiated by Six Garhwal Rifles of the Army, the J&K police and the BSF to rescue the hostages.

Photo journalist killed

A photo journalist of the local English newspaper Daily Excelsior, Ashok Sodhi (45), while covering the encounter was killed. A bullet pierced his temple.

A hostage, identified as Pulu Devi, and Army jawan Atul were also killed in the militant fire. By 5 p.m. seven hostages were rescued and the security forces killed the militants.

Inspector General of Police K. Rajendra said it was difficult to say whether the two had freshly infiltrated.

He, however, added that it was definite that they belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba as an intercepted message showed.

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