Six soldiers and 12 Lashkar militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jul 4 (UNI) Six soldiers, including three Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and 12 Pakistani infiltrators were killed in the ongoing fierce encounter in north Kashmir, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

He said troops guarding the Line of Control (LOC) in Sadhna top sector noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) early this week.

When challenged and asked to surrender, the heavily armed militants opened fire and also threw grenades.

Troops also retaliated and killed two militants on the first day.

One JCO also lost his life, he said.

The spokesman said on the second day six more infiltrators were gunned down.

He said search operations were extended to other areas in the in the nearby forests.

An encounter took place again in which three more militants were killed.

Five soldiers, including two JCOs also laid down their lives, he said adding operation was still going on when the reports last came in.

This was for the first time that such large number of infiltrators have sneaked into this side from POK after more than three years. However, he said, in the past a group of five to six militants have been infiltrating through this route.

UNI BAS RSA RAI1355