Thaindian News

Jammu, Aug 28 (IANS) Three hostages, including two children, were feared dead and one woman was rescued after a daylong fierce gun battle in which security forces gunned down three militants holed up in a house in Chinore near here, army officials said early Thursday.At least three bodies were spotted in the building, even as the house owner’s wife was rescued, the army officials told reporters, adding that personnel were clearing booby traps and rescue works were on.

They said the fate of four more hostages was not known.

Three militants, who were yet to be identified, had taken shelter in the house in Chinore, 20 km from this Jammu and Kashmir winter capital, early Wednesday morning.

In the nearly 17-hour gun battle, security forces succeed in eliminating all three of them but three civilians and one army officer were killed in the operation.