Soldier, militant among three killed in J and K

Srinagar, Dec 9 (UNI) A soldier and a militant were among three people killed in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said today.

They said a joint search party of security forces and police was attacked by the militants at a village in Ganderbal area ealy this morning. The fire was returned and in the clash, one militant was killed.

One AK rifle and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militant.

They said security forces on a tip off cordoned off village Barodi in Poonch district of Jammu region early this morning.

However, when the troops were about to storm a particular house of Mohammad Rafiq, militants hiding inside opened fire. Security forces also retaliated and in the fierce clash, a soldier Virender Kumar and a civilian, Mohammad Sharief were killed.

The house was also damaged in the encounter, sources said adding it was not immediately known whether the militants were still there or had managed to escape from the cordoned off area.

UNI BAS VD KN1756