9 Pak infiltrators, a soldier among 11 killed, 5 arrested in J and k

Srinagar, May 9 (UNI) Nine infiltrators of Pakistan based Lashker-e- Toiba (LeT) and a soldier were among eleven people killed and six soldiers wounded while security forces arrested five upper ground workers of Al-Badr outfit in the Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

A police spokesman said security forces and police launched a joint operation at Dardhari in Kupwara district of north Kashmir this morning following a tip-off that militants were hiding there.

When the security forces were about to storm a particular area, militants hiding there opened fire. The fire was returned and in the subsequent fierce clash four militants were killed. Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were recovered from them. In another operation at Sangerpati troops and SOG killed two more militants.

Two houses were also damaged in the encounter, official sources said.

The spokesman said troops of 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint operation in the Handwara area of north Kashmir yesterday afternoon after receiving information that some militants were hiding there.

He said when the security forces were sealing the area the militants opened fire and also hurled grenades. The fire was effectively returned and two militants were killed in a fierce encounter. A soldier also killed and six others were wounded.

Another militant was killed in a similar operation by 17 Dorgas and SOG at Trehagam in north Kashmir.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition, including three AK rifles were recovered from the slain militants.

Official sources said the slain militants were part of ten to twelve member group who infiltrated from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) recently.

They said the operation was still on to eliminate two other members of the group.

A report from Baramulla said unidentified gunmen shot at and critically wounded one Fayaz Ahmad Dar at Bomai, about 10 km from Sopore in this district last night. He was shifted to hospital where he died later.

Spokesman said Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, and GOC Kilo Force Maj Gen J S Bajwa was also supervising the encounters.

One house was also damaged in one of the encounters, he said.

He said 32 RR arrested three Upper Ground Workers (UGW) of Al-Badr outfit from village Bahkipora and recovered 40 Pika rounds, 1.5 Kgs explosive and one Electric Detonator.

Two more UGW were arrested with one hand grenade at Bandipora last night.

He said a two inch mortar was recovered by labourers while digging land at village Razwan in the central Kashmir district of Badgam today. Later the Bomb Disposal Squad defused it.

UNI