It was a trauma they would have never imagined to come across. Fear could be seen on the faces of the seven hostages, including four children, who were held captive by suspected LeT militants for 19-hours before being freed in a military operation.

One little child said the armed militants were in police uniform, had entered the kitchen and asked all the inmates of the house to assemble together.

"We went inside the kitchen but they got us out. They were talking and were in police uniform," the child said.

The children -- Sheetal (9), Vipin (2), Ashad (7) and Kajal (4)-- said they were scared and were very happy that they have been rescued.

A woman - one of the hostages - said, "They (militants) said 'we will kill you'. We pleaded with them not to kill us and said take all the belongings and cash but please spare us. We have small children.

"They then locked all of us, except my husband who they kept separately in a room," she said.

 The father of the children -Billo Ram- who was not among the hostages, said, "I had lost hope. I had given up. It was God's grace that they (the children) are safe. I am also thankful to the Army for getting them out."