The Hindu : 14 militants gunned down

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Sunday, Jun 08, 2003

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14 militants gunned down

Arms and ammunition and Pakistani currency notes recovered from militants, displayed at an Army camp in Beepora in north Kashmir. Eight Lakshar-e-Taiba and Jeish-e-Mohammad rebels were killed at Zanpora on Friday. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

New Delhi June 7. Stepping up efforts to flush out terrorists from the mountain hide-outs in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army gunned down 14 militants, mostly belonging to Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad cadres, in intensified operations since last evening, an Army spokesperson said.

While operation "Sarp Vinash", the biggest Army counter-insurgency operation was still on in Jammu's Surankote sector, the men of `Victor Force' today came across a big band of mercenaries in Pulwama district across the Pir Panjal range and killed eight of them after smashing two of their hideouts. The spokesperson said all the eight terrorists killed were LeT and JeM cadres.

Troops recovered eight AK-47 assault rifles, two pistols, a huge quantity of ammunition and other war-like stores from them.

The busting of these hideouts is significant as the Army's crackdown resulted in destruction of 92 militant fortifications in Surankote district and elimination of 100 militants, according to intelligence sources.

Some of the estimated 250 terrorists who were assembled there, had fled towards Kashmir Valley, the sources said.

South of the Pir Panjal, troops of `Romeo Force' on specific intelligence, surprised another group of Let and JeM militants in Thanamandi area near Rajouri town, killing four and recovering four AK assault rifles, nine hand grenades and a large quantity of ammunition, they said.

In Bandipore, troops in two encounters, killed two militants and recovered two AK-47 rifles and some radio sets.

PTI

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