20000328

19 killed in

occupied Kashmir

as Mosque's siege ends

SRINAGAR: At least 19 more were killed in occupied Kashmir on Monday, as the Indian army ended a two-day siege of freedom fighters sheltering in a mosque in the Himalayan valley.

Three civilians, including a woman, died and 10 others were injured in a grenade attack near the northern township of Bandipora, 70 kilometres (40 miles) north of Srinagar, the police said.

The grenade was hurled at a paramilitary security patrol by militants. The grenade missed its target and exploded among a group of passers-by.

The area was immediately cordoned off by police and federal paramilitary guards, a police spokesman here said.

Indian troops shot dead two militants in the northern district of Kupwara.

Six more Mujahideen were shot by the troops in three separate encounters in northern and southern occupied Kashmir districts, the police said, adding a young boy died when he strolled over an unexploded shell in northern occupied Kashmir.

Indian troops pulled out of a village in occupied Kashmir on Monday after a two-day siege of militants hold up in a mosque ended with the killing of all three freedom fighters.

Two soldiers, including a major, were also killed in the operation, the spokesman said.

The army pulled out after the third Mujahid was killed late Sunday night at Dodhipora village, near Handwara town, 90 kilometres (60 miles) north of Srinagar city.

The other two Mujahideen had been killed when they jumped out of the mosque and tried to escape after setting off an explosion as a diversion.

The 50-hour siege began when the three Mujahideen sought refuge in the mosque after troops sealed Dodhipora on Saturday to conduct a house-to-house search.

Police said the troops had returned to their barracks, while villagers who fled the area had started to drift back.ÑAPP