Infiltration bid foiled, 2 Lashker ultras among three killed in J

Srinagar, Aug 20 (UNI) Army troops today foiled an infiltration bid in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, when they gunned down an intruder while security forces shot dead two Lashker ultras during a fierce encounter in south Kashmir, an official spokesman said.

He said troops noticed some suspicious movement of a group of seven infiltrators via Kanga area near the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote area of the Poonch sector in the early hours today.

When the troops challenged and asked them to surrender they were fired heavily and in the ensuing fire-fight, which continued for several hours, one militant was killed, the spokesman said.

However his other six associates managed to escape and may have crossed back to LoC, he said.

Two soldiers were also wounded in the gun-battle, he said, adding that the wounded have been evacuated to hospital.

Search operation was still going on in the area to nab the ultras, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said security forces killed two ultras, belonging to the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), in an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

''Based on a specific information, a search operation was launched at Ranipura village in Pulwama district last evening,'' he said, adding that during the operation, troops came under heavy fire from the militants which was effectively retaliated.

Two militants were killed in the gunfight, he added.

The spokesman said one militant was identified as Bilal of Tekipura in Pulwama district. The identification of the other militant was yet to be ascertained, he said two AK assault rifles were seized from them, he added.

During the encounter seven residential houses got damaged, the spokesman said.

Militants shot at and wounded constable Ashiq Hussain of Jammu and Kashmir Police at Holy shrine of Shah Israr Bagdadi Asthanbala Kishtwar in Doda district of Jammu region early today, where he was on guard duty.

Ashiq was rushed to sub-district hospital Doda, he said.

Security forces apprehended an Upper ground worker of militants at Kralgund Handwara last evening. Some incriminating material was seized from his house.

UNI AG ASM KR BST1833