Soldier and 3 militants among five killed in J and K

Srinagar, Apr 14 (UNI) A soldier and three militants were among five people killed while security forces arrested an ultra and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including explosives, in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

Official sources said security forces on a tip-off, cordoned off a village near Ashmuqam in Anantnag early this morning to nab the militants.

However, when the security forces sealed the exit points, militants fired at them with automatic weapons. In the ensuing exchange of fire, one soldier lost his life.

Reinforcement was rushed there from nearby camps, they said adding the militants managed to escape.

A police press release issued here said an encounter took place at Maha Bhan in south Kashmir district of Anantnag last night in which two militants Mubshir Ahmad Dar and Irshad Ahmad Khan were kiilled. Two A K rifles, eight magazines, 176 rounds of ammunition, five hand grenades and one cell phone were recovered from the slain militants.

It said one unsound boy Firdous Ahmad Wani also died in the shoot-out.

In a seperate encounter security forces killed a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Ayub Rather at Machnar in Doda district of Jammu region last night. One A K rifle, one magazine, three rounds of ammunition and one wireless set were recovered from the slain militant.

An official spokesman said security forces arrested a militant along with one A K rifle, three magazines and 83 rounds at Kokernag while ten kg of explosives, three detonators, 15 metres of wire and one wireless set were recovered from a hideout at Mohripora in Anantnag.

UNI BAS SB KN1906