2 Lashker militants killed, three holed up in a mosque in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 23 (UNI) Sharp shooters have taken position around the mosque in south Kashmir where a group of militants are holed up since this afternoon, while two militants of Lashker-e-Toiba were gunned down in north Kashmir.

Official sources said sharp shooters holding automatic weapons have taken positions around the mosque in which a group of militants are holed up after an encounter with the security forces.

Two soldiers and a civilian were injured in the encounter sosfar.

They said holed up militants were being asked to surrender to avoid any damage to the mosque.

However, the militants continue to fire on the security forces.

The sources said a group of militants, reportedly two to three entered the mosque after the exchange of fire with a patrol party in the area.

Reinforcement was rushed to the area from nearby camps to foil any militant attempt to escape.

All the residents have been taken to safer places.

A defence ministry spokesman confirmed the encounter and said that repeated announcements are being made through public address system asking the militants to surrender.

A report from Baramulla said an encounter took place between militants and security forces at Papchan, Bandipora in north Kashmir this evening.

During the encounter two militants of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba were killed.

Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.

UNI