Soldier, 3 militants among five killed, 6 jawans injured in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 26 (UNI) A soldier and a militant were killed and six other jawans were injured in an encounter on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir today.

Elsewhere in the valley two militants were among three people killed overnight.

A defence ministry spokesman told UNI that militants suddenly appeared from a bylane at Fristabal Pampore, about 12 km from here in Pulwama district of South Kashmir, and started indiscriminate firing on an army convoy at 0915 hours.

He said army personnel, travelling from Srinagar to Jammu, also returned the fire in a very controlled manner and in the encounter, a soldier died and six others were wounded.

He said one militant was also killed in the return fire by security forces.

Official sources said traffic on the highway was suspended for about an hour due to the attack.

This was the first attack by militants in the area after about two years.

Spokesman said militant attack in a built up area was to provoke security forces so that civilians presents there get harmed.

However, due to professional and surgical operation, troops foiled the evil designs of militants.

Official sources said one body was recovered from Dalgate area of the city last night.

They said security forces gunned down two militants in an encounter at Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara last night. The encounter ensued after a search party was attacked by the militants in which one soldier was injured.

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