4 Lashker militants among 6 killed, infiltration bids foiled in J

Srinagar, Mar 8 (UNI) Four militants of Pakistan based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) were among six people killed while two infiltration bids from Pakistan- Occupied- Kashmir (POK) were foiled by troops in Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

Superintendent of Police Handwara, Dr Haseeb Mughal giving details about last night's fierce encounter said a tip-off was received from locals that some militants were hiding in the woods at Rajwar in the frontier district of Kupwara.

He said a joint operation was immediately launched by police and 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) after all the exit points were sealed in the area. However, it took about two hours to reach the militant hideout and four Let militants were killed in the ensuing gunbattle Dr Mughal said.

One of the slain militant was identified as Saifullah alias G-II, a resident of Pakistan.

Dr Mughal said a solider, Pardeep Kumar, was injured and has been admitted to Base Hospital.

Three AK 56 rifles, one AK 47 rifle, four magazines, 120 rounds of ammunition, two hand grenades and one wireless set were recovered from their possession, he added.

A police spokesman said one Ali Mohammad Rather was hanged to death at Zoonimar while a body was recovered at Pazalpora last night.

An official spokesman said one militant of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was arrested after a brief encounter at Pampore in the south Kashmir district of Pulwama last evening.

Alert security forces guarding the Line of Control (LOC) noticed two groups of militants infiltrating from POK at Mankote sector of Jammu region.

On being challenged and asked to surrender, militants opened fire which was returned by the security forces. However, the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness, he said.

UNI