January 4, 2002	Friday	Shawwal 19, 1422

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SRINAGAR, Jan 3: Twenty-two suspected mujahideen were killed in separate encounters with Indian security forces in Kashmir, police said on Thursday

Four soldiers also died in violent clashes in the held state, while three forestry officials were kidnapped. Five Mujahideen were killed in an encounter with troops in Kupwara district.

Police said four of them had been identified as members of the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen. In a separate encounter in Baramullah district, a “battalion commander” of the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Khaild, was shot dead.

In Shopian district, two Mujahideen from the Lashkar-i-Taiba were killed in an encounter with the army. One soldier also died. In another incident in Anantnag district, a clash between the army and Mujahideen led to the death of three activists.

In Rajouri district, two soldiers were killed in an attack by Mujahideen. On Wednesday night, nine Mujahideen were killed in a clash with security forces in Kalaimada Hill area while two other activists and one soldier were killed in another encounter in Chambjurian area. In Srinagar, Bashir Ahmed, a baker, who had earlier been arrested by police on Dec 26, died in a local hospital on Thursday.