5 Lashkar militants killed in fierce encounter in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 28 (UNI) Five Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were killed in a fierce encounter with the security forces in north Kashmir today, official sources said.

They said state police and 14 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) launched a joint operation at Shokabab Gujjar Pati, Bandipora, where polls were held in the first phase on November 17, following a tip off about the presence of militants in a retired Army officer's house Lateef Khan.

During the operation, militants attacked the search party with automatic weapons and hand grenade from the house and its cowshed, triggering an encounter.

Security forces used mortar shells and blasted the house when militants refused to surrender, after the inmates were rescued.

They said all the five LeT militants were killed. Five AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were also recovered from them they said.

Two houses and two cowsheds were also damaged in the encounter, they said.

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