Militants shoot dead soldier in Kashmir

Militants shot dead a Territorial Army (TA) man at his residence in Suhart area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Monday.

Reports said militants barged into the house of Mukhtar Ahmad Malik alias Mukhtar Gola of TA 162 Battalion and was shot at from a close range. Malik died on the spot.

Unconfirmed reports said the solider had come to his home to mourn his son's death.

Before joining the TA, Malik was commander of Ikhwan, a pro-government force, which broke the backbone of militancy in the mid and late 90s.

The militants have been increasingly attacking soldiers and policemen on leave in south Kashmir.

On August 22, three policemen, including an officer, were killed in south Kashmir areas when they were home to celebrate Bakr Eid.

On June 14, militants abducted and murdered rifleman Aurangzeb Khan of Rashtriya Rifles when he was going to join his family in Mendhar area of Poonch district to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr festival.