Militants holed up in J&K mosque killed

SRINAGAR: The 46-hour hostage drama in south Kashmir ended late on Monday night with security forces killing all the three militants holed up inside the mosque at Palnu village in Kulgam district. The three hostages were rescued.

Deputy inspector-general of police (south Kashmir) Hemant Kumar Lohia said security personnel lobbed teargas shells towards the mosque which suffocated the militants. As a result, they came out of the mosque. They were finally killed.

The militants were Shiraz Ahmad Bhat alias Asger, Mudasir Ahmad Mir alias Jehangir, and Ishfaq Ahmad Wagay alias Ali. All the three belonged to Hizb-ul-Mujhadeent.

The militants had taken five civilians hostage inside the mosque after they were chased away by security forces on Sunday morning. In the cross-fire, a civilian, Tajamul-Islam Mir, sustained injuries. An army jawan of 62 Rashtriya Riffles was also injured.  Two hostages had managed to escape under the pretext of collecting food.
 
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