2 LeT militants, soldier among 5 killed, 18 injured in J

Srinagar, July 12 (UNI) Two militants of Pakistan-based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) and a soldier were among five people killed and 18 others were wounded in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said.

They said militants in their continued attack on tourists, hurled a hand grenade towards a bus at world famous tourist resort of Gulmarg this aftenoon at 1630 hours. Eight tourists, including three from Delhi, were injured in the blast. They were admitted to hospital. The attack at Gulmarg came a day after series of attacks on tourists in the Srinagar city in which nine tourists were killed and 38 others wounded.

One tourist from Kolkata Ashish Gosh, who was injured in a grenade blast at Dalgate yesterday, died in the hospital today. With this the toll in yesterday's series of blasts has risen to nine dead.

They said police gunned down a foreign militant of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) in an encounter at Deyalgam in south Kashmir district of Anantnag in the wee hours today. One ak rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant. A police official was also injured in the encounter.

Another militant of LeT Mohammad Ramzan alias Usman was killed by the security forces during a search operation at Dharja in Doda district last night. One AK rifle, three magzines, A 11 rounds of ammunItion and one wireless set were recovered from the slain militant.

Militants attacked a security force patrol party at Kursen forest in Chattay Bandi in north Kashmir district of Baramulla this morning. Security forces also retaliated and in the fierce encounter a soldier Jagjit Singh was killed and another wounded. Militants later managed to escape, sources said adding a massive hunt has been launched to nab them.

Sources said militants shot dead one Abdul Gaffar at Pattan in Baramulla district.

They said militants hurled a hand grenade at soldiers of 22 Rashtriya Rifles near Sopore Hospital causing injuries to three soldiers identified as Trilochan Singh, Amreek Singh and Lakhwinder Singh.

The soldiers were hospitalised, sources said.

A massive combing operation has been launched in the area to apprehend the militants, the sources added.

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