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2 Militant Commanders Among 4 Killed in Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Sept 7: Two top militant commanders owing allegiance to the Pakistan based militant groups, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, a soldier and a girl were killed in different militancy related incidents across Kashmir on Sunday.

A police officer said that a top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad was killed in an encounter with troopers at Warpora, Sopore in North Kashmir. He identified the slain militant commander as Barkatulla Ansari alias Hyder of Pakistan. "The slain militant commander was acting as coordinator between different militant outfits," the police officer said.

The police officer further said that a top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba was also killed in a gunfight with troopers at Budhshah Mohalla, Dangerpora, Sopore in North Kashmir. Identifying the slain militant commander as Mohammad Abid Ali alias Qari Usman, he claimed that he was active in Kashmir for the past 8 years and was involved in various attacks on troopers.

Meanwhile, militants attacked Indian army personnel at Banihal, some 125 kms from summer capital Srinagar. A soldier was killed and two others critically injured in the militant attack. The injured soldiers were hospitalised.

Meanwhile, a girl was killed and three others critically injured in a blast in mountainous Poonch region in Kashmir. The deceased girl was identified as Tabiya Begum. The three critically injured children were hospitalised.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.