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5 militants among 8 killed in Kashmir

Eight persons, including five terrorists, were killed and six injured in terrorism-related incidents in different parts of the Kashmir valley in the last 24 hours.

Professor Ramzan, head of the Jamait-Ahal-Hadees, who was shot at outside a mosque at Zampa Kadal in downtown Srinagar on January 29, died in the S K Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura this morning.

People came out on the streets to protest against his death.

An official spokesman said gunmen shot at and critically wounded four youths this afternoon at Lal Bazaar, also in Srinagar.

In another incident, at Rajouri, one person, Kasal Tufail Nissar Qazmi, was shot at this afternoon.

The spokesman said a militant was killed in an encounter with the Jammu and Kashmir police's task force during a search operation in the Kithar forests of Bunjwa area last evening. One assault rifle, two magazines and 20 rounds were recovered from him.

A defence ministry spokesman said two terrorists were killed in an encounter with troops at Bonagund in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag last evening.

A Kalashnikov rifle, a grenade, two magazines and 20 rounds were recovered from the site.

Two army personnel were also injured in the clash.

Villagers, however, said the house of one Ghulam Rasool Padroo was damaged by mortars used by the troops in the encounter.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani will preside over a high-level meeting in New Delhi tomorrow to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the problems of migrants.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley, and the chiefs of security agencies and senior officials of the Union home ministry will attend the meeting. Governor Girish Chandra Saxsena is also likely to attend.

The meeting will consider the demands of the migrants and explore ways to return them to the state and resettle them there.

An in-depth discussion will take place on the security scenario in the state, where security forces are said to have virtually eliminated major militant groups.

Advani has promised representatives of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council that their problems will be also taken up for discussion with the state authorities.

The LAHDC has sought central intervention for financial and other powers and accused the state government of causing impediments in its functioning.

UNI

The Jammu & Kashmir state page

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