Two soldiers, four miltants killed, 2 HM acivits nabbed in J and K

Srinagar, Aug 4 (UNI) Two soldiers and four militants were killed and four jawans wounded while two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) ultras were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said.

They said a soldier was killed when militants attacked a patrol at Heyan, Kangan, about 40 km from here, late last night.

Security forces also returned the fire, but the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness, they said.

Security forces on a tip-off, cordoned off Helmetpora in the frontier district of Kupwara last night to nab militants. However, when the security forces were sealing the area, militants attacked them with automatic weapons. The fire was returned and in the fierce clash one militant was killed. One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.

They said troops conducted search operation at Gandoh in Doda district of Jammu region last night following information that militants were hiding there.

However, when the troops were about to storm a particular hideout, militants hiding inside opened fire and also hurled grenades. Troops also retaliated and in the night-long encounter three militants of Pakistan based Lashker-e-Toiba ((LeT) were killed. However, an official spoksman said body of only one militant was so far recovered from the debris of a house, damaged during the encounter.

One soldier also laid down his life and four others were wounded.

A large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, they said.

Spokesman said police rescued a boy Abid Hussain from the capitivity of militants at Banjwah Patnari in Doda district last night. The 17-year-old boy was being forced to join the militancy, he said.

Security forces arrested two HM militants at Dachoo and Trenz in Pulwama district of South Kashmir alongwith one rocket launcher with two rockets, one anti tank rifle grenade, one RPG and about 50 rounds of ammunition.

UNI BAS SHB KN2229