Four Lashkar-Jaish militants among five killed in J

Srinagar, Jan 4 (UNI) Four militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfits were gunned down while a suspected ultra was killed when a grenade exploded in his hands in Jammu and Kashmir overnight, an official spokesman said today.

An encounter erupted between security forces and militants who were staying in an abandoned 'dhok' (hutment) at Deeda under the Gool police station in Doda district of Jammu region early today.

Four militants of the LeT and JeM outfits were killed in the fierce gun-battle which raged for several hours. Four AK rifles, eight magazines, 40 rounds and one wireless set were seized from the possession. One of slain militants was identified as Mohammad Sharief, the spokesman added.

During the intervening night of January 3-4, a grenade exploded in the hands of Irshad Ahmed at Lablotha Khari in Banihal area of Doda district, resulting in his on-the-spot death and injury to Abdul Rashid Naik. Naik was admitted to a hospital, he said.

The spokesman said security forces apprehended a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Rafiq Ahmed Bajad alias Luqman, at Batapora village in Aishmuqama area of Anantnag district on the intervening night of January 3-4.

One AK-47 rifle and one magazine were seized from possession.

Militants today attacked a security force patrol with automatic weapons at Chanakhan in Sopore area of Baramulla district, official sources said.

Security forces also retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for about ten minutes. However, no one was wounded in the gunfight, the sources said, adding reinforcements were rushed to the area from nearby camps.

UNI