5 Pak infiltrators, 2 soldiers among 11 killed in J and K

Srinagar, Aug 16 (UNI) Troops gunned down five heavily armed Pakistani infiltrators today immediately after they sneaked across the LoC from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Machil sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

A defence spokesman told UNI that one soldier also lost his life and two others were wounded in the encounter, early this morning which broke out when the infiltrators were challenged and asked to surrender but opened fire with automatic weapons and also hurled hand grenades. The entire area has been sealed and a massive hunt has been launched in the woods to nab more members of the group, if any.

Efforts were being made from across the border to send as many militants into this side as possible before the infiltrating routes were closed due to snowfall. More than 50 militants have been killed by security forces this year after they sneaked into this side after the melting of snow on the high peaks, the spokesman said.

A senior security force official said more than 1500 militants were waiting across the border in launching pads near the LoC waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen militants surrendered along with arms and ammunition immediately after they crossed over to this side from PoK during the past six months. On Monday, four militants surrendered along with arms and ammunition before security forces in Uri sector after infiltrating into this side.

A number of ex-filtration attempts were also foiled by the alert security forces after they arrested more than 40 youths who were being taken to PoK by different militant organisations for arms training in the camps set up across the border.

The youths were later handed over to their families.

Elsewhere in the state a soldier and a woman were among five people killed during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said the Khandaypora encounter in south Kashmir which ensued after a patrol party was attacked by militants on August 14, ended last evening.

He said two civilians were killed and four others were injured in the incident. A soldier was also killed and four security force personnel were wounded in the gunfight.

One M A Bhat, who was injured in a grenade blast at Sopore recenlty, died in the hospital last evening.

Police recovered the body of a woman, Lali, from a cowshed outside her house at Dooniwari, Lolab in Kupwara district.

They said militants triggered an IED, targeting a security force party at Kulgam this morning, resulting in injuries to two jawans.

The injured were admitted to hospital, they said, adding a massive hunt has been launched to apprehend the militants responsible for causing the blast.

Panic gripped the Nishtat area on the bank of the Dal Lake when rumours spread that militants had planed an IED on the road to target security forces. Traffic on the busy road was suspended and a bomb disposal squad summoned. However, the situation became normal once the entire area was searched.

UNI BAS RP BST2006