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20 killed in Kashmir

Mukhtar Ahmed in Srinagar

At least 20 people -- including six militants, three soldiers and five members of a family -- were killed in a sudden escalation of violence across the Kashmir valley today.

The police in Srinagar said militants killed a prominent National Conference leader Mohammad Shaban Dar at Panzgam village in the southern Pulwama district. Senior police and security force officers have rushed to the village and a hunt has been launched to nab the killers. The militants have recently stepped up attacks on the ruling National Conference leaders and activists in the valley.

A group of heavily armed militants forced their entry into the home of a "pro-India" militant Ghulam Mohammad Shah at Belowgund village in Pulwama district and opened fire indiscriminately last night, killing five members of his family in cold blood.

Three top militants of the Hizbul Mujaheedin, including Khurshid Ahmad Mir, a divisional commander of the outfit, were killed in a fierce gunbattle between the army and the militants at Adipore village in Sopore in north Kashmir. The troops came under fire from the militants and the army retaliated by shelling mortars on the house killing the three militants. Several houses were damaged in the crossfire.

Three civilians were killed in an exchange of fire between the army and the militants at Pethkote village in the central Badgam district. One soldier also died in the firing.

The police in Srinagar said three top militants and two soldiers were killed in a gunbattle at Dardpora village in the northern Kupwara district today. Troops raided a house in the village, but came under intense fire resulting in the deaths of two soldiers. The troops later blasted the hideout and recovered the bodies of three militants.

The day of death ended when a village headman Abdul Ghaffar Bhat was gunned down late this evening by militants at Budrabal Handwara village in north Kashmir.

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