Soldier, militant killed, six 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.

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

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

He said one militant was also killed and the search operation in the area was going on.

It is believed that about two to three militants were involved in the attack, the spokesman said.

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.

UNI BAS VD KP1209