NC leader, militant killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: A National Conference blockpresident and an unidentified militant were killed in separate incidents inPulwama district of south Kashmir on Friday, official sourcessaid.Forty-year-old NC leader Ghulam Ahmad Rather was shot dead bymilitants at Munipora village in Pampore area of Pulwama district on Fridayafternoon, the sources said.Rather was going home from local mosqueafter offering Friday prayers when pistol-borne militants fired six shots athim, the sources said, adding he died on the spot.In a separateincident, the sources said a militant was killed in an encounter with the Armyat Pinjoora village of Shopia in Pulwama.The encounter broke outduring search operation in the village. An AK assault rifle and some ammunitionwere recovered from the deceased militant, the sources said.