Valley violence claims 11 lives

Six militants, two soldiers and three civilian were among 11 persons killed in various violent incidents across the Valley since Monday evening. Four militants were killed in an encounter at Bijhama in Uri along LoC. They were reportedly part of an infiltrating group.

In another encounter at Wagoora, Kreeri, in Baramulla district, two militants and two soldiers were killed, and six soldiers and three civilians were injured a fierce gunbattle on Tuesday. The encounter took place after security forces received a tip off about presence of militants.

Two civilians, Tariq Ahmad and Gulzar Ahmad, were killed by militants at Bijbehara in Anantnag. Abdul Rahim Sofi was killed by suspected militants in Bandipore of Baramulla. Sofi was maternal uncle of counter-insurgent turned NC legislator Javid Hussain Shah. Panthers Party candidate for Dooru Mushtaq Ahmad Shah on Tuesday survived a bid on his life when militants attacked his cavalcade near Kapran in Kokernag.