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| India-Pakistan |
| Security forces end terrorist siege in Kashmir hotel |
| 2003-03-14 |
| Security forces ended a terrorist siege on a hotel in the Jammu and Kashmir border town of Poonch Friday evening after the guerrillas killed six people, including three civilians. The army and police killed a terrorist and rescued six civilians who were being held in the hotel. The three civilians died when they were caught in crossfire between the guerrillas, police said. Deputy Superintendent of Police Manjit Singh, a policeman and a Central Reserve Police Force trooper were shot dead by the terrorists when they took over the hotel in Poonch, 240 km north of here, at around 2.30 pm. "One militant has been killed and we are looking for others," Director General of Police A.K. Suri told IANS. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attack. Suri said security forces launched their operation against the terrorists after ensuring that civilians did not get caught in the crossfire. The security forces had to take special precautions during the operation as several civilians were in the hotel located in the crowded main market of Poonch. Six civilians were earlier injured in crossfire that broke out after a police party raided the hotel on specific information that terrorists were hiding in it. The militants lobbed grenades and opened fire with automatic assault rifles. The army was called in to help the police but the security forces decided against storming the three-storey hotel till darkness engulfed the town. Army commandos, who entered the hotel from a rear entrance, took one of the terrorists by surprise and shot him dead. Police officials had earlier said up to four terrorists were holed up in the hotel. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |