Troops kill 2 HM militants; kidnapped girl dies in Doda

Jammu, Dec 4 (UNI) Security forces today gunned down two hardcore Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants during an encounter at Banihal in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, an Army spokesman said.

In a joint operation, troops of 23 Rashtriya Rifles and police eliminated HM militants Qasim Gujjar alias Badshah Khan and Irshad alias Shaheen at Khari Lablath in Banihal area of Ramban, Doda, the spokesman said.

Two AK rifles, seven AK magazines and two radio sets were recovered from the possession of slain militants.

Meanwhile, two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants Javed Iqbal alias Umer Gazi and Mohammad Iqbal alias Haq Nawaz escaped along with a kidnapped girl from a hideout in Parshala forest near Doda, sources said.

''They were engaged by the troops but escaped in the thick forest under the cover of dark'' source said.

While running, the kidnapped girl Shabnam Bano of Prem Nagar fell down into a gorge and died, source said.

Her body was recovered from the spot, while the search operation was still going on, sources added.

UNI VJ MSJ DB2039