Militants holed up in mosque

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, MAY 30. At least two security persons, one of them an Army jawan, were killed in a fierce encounter in a south Kashmir village since Wednesday morning. Four militants are holed up in a mosque and the exchange of fire between them and the security forces is on.

Reports reaching here said the security forces had cordoned off Kharwar village in Pulwama district, around 65 km from here, early today on receiving information that some militants were hiding there. The forces came under heavy fire as soon as they entered the village, and a soldier and a surrendered militant, Abdul Rashid alias Nasir - who was working as a Special Police Officer -, were killed on the spot.

The militants, numbering four and reportedly affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, then took shelter in the mosque. The security forces, comprising personnel from 1 Rashtriya Rifles, the Border Security Force and the Special Operations Group of the State police, later tightened the cordon and asked the militants to surrender. However, they refused and are still holed up in the mosque, from where they continued firing at the security forces.

The security forces are working on a strategy to force the militants out of the mosque without disturbing its sanctity. Senior officers have rushed to the spot.

Afghan voice heard

PTI reports:

Despite repeated warnings to surrender, the militants continued firing for most part of the day at the troops before calling a halt in the evening, sources said. The security forces made a vain bid to persuade the militants to surrender by sending a team of local residents inside the mosque after the firing stopped.

The sources said wireless intercepts between the holed-up militants and their associates outside revealed that the militants included a senior commander of the outfit. The wireless intercepts also revealed that one of the foreign militants, said to be an Afghan national, has either been killed or injured in the exchange of fire. However, it was yet to be confirmed.

Pak. Armyman surrenders

A Pakistan Army Naik, Makar Hussain of the 2 Sindh Regiment, surrendered before the Army in Khour sector of Jammu with one AK rifle, three magazines and some Pakistani currency. Officials, however, did not say how he had entered India.

Security forces taking positions outside a mosque in Kharwar, Pulwama district, to flush out militants holed in on Wednesday.

- PTI

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