Two soldiers and a Lashker militant killed, 3 arrested in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 19 (UNI) Two soldiers and a militant of Pakistan based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed while three ultras were arrested in the Kashmir valley overnight, a defence ministry spokesman said.

A defence ministry spokesman said troops of 47 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) conducted a search operation at village Kandi in the frontier district of Kupwara today after receiving information that a group of militant were hiding there.

However, when the area was being sealed, militants opened fire.

The fire was returned and in the encounter an LeT militant Abu Khafa, a resident of Pakistan, was killed. One AK rifle, one magazine and ten rounds, one pouch and one wireless set were recovered from the slain militant. One soldier was also injured in the incident.

Later, troops also unearthed a hideout and recovered some arms and ammunition.

He said militants shot dead two soldiers of Territorial Army (TA) of 161 batallion at Handwara in north Kashmir district of Kupwara late last night. Both the soldiers were on leave, he said.

Meanwhile, Al-Badr and Al-Mansoorain militant outfits have claimed responsibility for the killing.

Defence spokesman said troops of 46 RR arrested three militants of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Nissar Ahmad Dar, Jahangir Ahmad Khan alias Kinga and Mehraj Ahmad Rather at Nadihal in Baramulla district last night. Three hand grenades, one pistol with one magazine and five rounds and a wireless set were recovered from their possession.

With this, a total of 14 militants of HM were arrested by troops in the Kashmir valley during the past two days.

UNI BAS PA RS1425