3 Lashker militants among 5 killed, 6 BSF jawans injured in J

Srinagar, Aug 5 (UNI) Three militants of Pakistan based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) were among five people killed and ten others, including six Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said.

They said security forces conducted search operation at Helmatpora, in the frontier district of Kupwara yesterday following a tip off that militants were hiding there. As soon as the security forces were about to storm a particular house, militants opened fire.

Security forces further tightened the cordon around the house and returned the fire in which three LeT militants were killed. Three AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant. Security forces did not suffer any loss, sources added.

One of the slain militant has been identified as Abu Usama, resident of Pakistan. Two AK rifle, 3 magazines, 85 rounds, 2 grenades and Rs 2080 were recovered from the slain militants.

Official sources said militants hurled a hand grenade towards BSF at main town at Sopore, about 55 km from here, at 1400 hrs causing injuries to two BSF personnel and two civilians.

Later, another grenade was hurled towards a BSF picket near State Bank of India branch, Sopore causing injuries to six BSF personnel.

The injured were admitted to hospital. However, two critically wounded were admitted to base hospital here.

An official spokesman said during the night intervening militants shot dead Mohd Ashraf (Panch) at Dhoke Dhara Surankote in Poonch district of Jammu regiion.

Security forces gunned down a militant Abu Zuber, a resident of Pakistan in an encounter at Gundana in Doda district.

He said security forces busted a hideout at Thunni and recovered 2 hand grenades, 2 magazines and 21 rounds.

UNI BAS ASM SHB RK2020