(rptg, correcting rank of army officer in para one, five)

Jammu, Sep 26 (UNI) In a major crackdown against militants, at least nine ultras, including three infiltrators, were killed while an Army Lieutenant rpt Lieutenant sustained wounds a in separate counter-insurgency operation in Jammu region, a defence ministry spokesman today said.

Foiling another infiltration bid, troops of 3/11 Gorkha Rifles shot dead all the three infiltrators on Line of Control (LoC) at Balakote in Poonch district early today, Defence spokesman Lt Col S D Goswami told UNI.

One of the intruders was identified as Abu Ubek Gujjaranwala of Pakistan, while the identity of other two and their outfit was yet to be ascertained, he added.

A total of three AK 47 rifles, a communication device, larg quantity of ammunition and other material were recovered from the possession of infiltrators.

An Army Lieutenant rpt Lieutenant also sustained bullet injuries in the shootout and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Two self-styled commanders of Hizb-ul Mujahideen (HM) militant outfit were shot dead by the security forces in an encounter at Ghatt in Doda early today, Lt Col Goswami said.

The slain HM commanders were identified as 'divisional commander' Mohammad Shafi alias Nasir and 'tehsil commander' Javed Iqbal alias Umar Gazi, both residents of Doda.

An AK rifle, a pistol, two magazines, 11 rounds and four Chinese grenades were also recovered from the encounter site.

The duo, eliminated by 10 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police in a midnight operation, were active in the district since 2000.

In another search operation, two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were gunned down by the 58 RR at Denge in Gool area of Reasi, the spokesman said.

''The hidden ultras threw grenade on the search patrol which retaliate and gunned down two militant in a brief encounter,'' Lt Col Goswami said.

The LeT militants were identified as Liyaqat alias Abu Farhan and Abdul Latif Choppan.

Earlier, two LeT militants, identified as Omar Gul and Abdul Tariq, were killed by the joint columns of 60 RR and special operations group of police at Khewri in Budhal area (Rajouri) last afternoon.

An army jawan, identified as Varinder Kumar Sharma of Doda, was also killed in the gun battle.

Two AK-56 rifles, three magazines, 13 rounds, one radio set, six grenades, eight detonators, two pouches and incriminating documents were recovered by troops from the site of operation.

UNI