January 21, 2002	Monday	Ziqa’ad 6, 1422

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SRINAGAR, Jan 20: Ten people, seven of them Mujahideen, were killed in occupied Kashmir overnight and on Sunday, a police spokesman said.

Three Kashmiris and an Indian army soldier were killed in a fierce gunbattle in the northern district of Kupwara overnight, he said.

The fighting broke out when Indian army troops ringed a suspected hideout in the snow-enveloped Kandi area. Mujahideen opened fire at the raiding troops killing a soldier, police said.

“Soldiers returned the fire killing all the three militants hiding inside the hideout,” the spokesman said.

Another Kashmiri was shot dead in neighbouring Dodipora village of the same district.

Two more freedom fighters were shot dead on Sunday morning near Kokernag, 80 kms southeast of Srinagar, police said.

Three more people, including a freedom fighter, died elsewhere in Kashmir, police said.

APHC: In a related development, the leader of the Mujahideen’s main alliance in occupied Kashmir on Sunday said it was unlikely to call for an immediate ceasefire in the region.

In November Abdul Gani Bhat, chairman of All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) — a conglomerate of 23 political groups — urged for India, Pakistan, the APHC and other parties to call a truce.

The appeal was spurned by both Mujahideen groups and the Indian government.

On Saturday Mr Bhat said the APHC would prefer to wait and watch before making any kind of appeal.—AFP