JAMMU/SRINAGAR, DEC 21: Nine people, including a National Conference activist and two Army jawans died in attacks by militants across Jammu and Kashmir today.Three militants and two Army jawans were killed in encounters in Jammu and Rajouri districts. Sources said that the militants were killed and six policemen injured in an encounter at Nud (Samba) in Jammu district today afternoon. The encounter was in progress till last reports came in.Giving details, Deputy Inspector General of Police for Jammu and Kathua S.P. Vaid said the police had received information about infiltration by militants from across the International Border and accordingly, it had set up ambush in the area. The encounter started when militants, who were already hiding in the area, opened fire on one of the ambush parties.Significantly, the area is about 25 kms away from the International Border and how militants managed to reach there without attracting any attention, is a mystery. Meanwhile, two Armymen were killed and five others injured when militants attacked an Army convoy at Dehri Lalyot on the Rajouri-Mendhar road. The deceased have been identified as Harpal Singh and Kulwinder Singh (both 12 Dogras) and the injured, as Havaldar Subash Chander and Sepoy Gurcharan Singh (both 8 Dogras), besides bus driver Amarjeet Singh. The identity of two others could not be ascertained.Sources said that the victims were travelling in SRTC buses from Jammu to Mendhar. However, militants in Army uniform sat on the roadside and opened fire, deflating the tyres of both the buses. Thereafter, they lobbed grenades on both the buses.NC leader Siraj Mir Biswal was shot dead last night near Rajpora forests after being kidnapped from his residence in Dogripora. His bullet-riddled body was discovered by police early today.A former militant-turned policeman working with the Special Operations Group of local police, Nazir Ahmad Mir, was killed by militants at Mahipora in Anantnag district in south Kashmir. Militants also killed a civilian at Hapatnar forest in Anantnag and shot dead a health department official in Thanamandi area of Rajouri district after abducting him last evening.Five people, including a security jawan and a policeman, were injured when militants attacked a security picket with grenade at Kupwara district in north Kashmir, two policemen were injured in an encounter with militants at Naj-Kali village in Jammu region last evening.In two separate incidents of abduction, an activist of Ikhwan outfit, Ishtiaq Ahmad Wani, was kidnapped by militants from Mahagund-Kulgam in Anantnag district last evening while a civilian was abducted from Nurpora village in Pulwama district today, the spokesman said.
