January 26, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 22,1423

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SRINAGAR, Jan 25: A policeman was killed in a mine explosion in occupied Kashmir on Saturday, a day before India’s Republic Day celebrations.

The landmine blast in the highway village of Ashmuqam, 85 kilometres south of Srinagar, also injured six other policemen.

The Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack.

Also on Saturday two militants were killed and two Indian soldiers were injured in two fierce encounters in the Poonch district, police said.

The violence came just hours after the held state’s police chief said troops were prepared to take on militants who may try to disrupt Republic Day.

As a preventative measure, police have rounded up a large number of Kashmiris and their release is unlikely before the end of all the celebrations.

“(Indian) security forces will foil all attempts by militants to carry out fidayeen (suicide) attacks on the eve of Republic Day,” the director general of police, Ashok Kumar Suri, told reporters.—AFP