July 15, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1424

SRINAGAR, July 14: Five Mujahideen, three Indian security force personnel and two civilians were killed in a fresh spate of separatist-violence in Indian-held Kashmir, officials said on Monday.

Panic gripped the busy Regal Chowk area of Srinagar on Monday when suspected Mujahideen opened fire on a security force patrol, killing a policeman and injuring a shopkeeper, police and witnesses said.

The shooting sparked panic in the bustling shopping area, with people seen running for cover fearing retaliation from the police.

In the village of Hapatnar in the northern Kupwara district, freedom fighters on Monday ambushed an army patrol killing two soldiers, a police spokesman said.

Army reinforcements rushed to the village and launched a search operation.

Meanwhile, three militants were killed during a night-long clash with border guards in Budgam, said Tirtha Acharya, spokesman for India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in Srinagar.

He claimed all three were top ranking members of the hardline Jaish-i-Mohammad.—AFP