Four army men, 5 militants killed in two J-K encounters

Srinagar, Sep 23 (ANI): Four army men including a Major and five militants were killed in two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

The gun battle with militants is going on in Bandipora and Rafiabad areas of the Kashmir Valley.

Major JS Suri of the Special Operation Group was martyred along with a soldier during the Bandipora encounter. Two soldiers also died during gunfight with militants in Rafiabad area.

The Rafiabad gunbattle, which began on September 22 evening around 4.30 p.m., two army personnel, including a Major are also severely injured so far.

Five militants have been killed so far in both encounters, as they were trying to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir, defense officials said.

The gunfight started in Gurez Sector, 130 km north of Srinagar, the capital of the state.

"The army has succeeded in foiling an infiltration bid along Gurez sector by killing five militants. The contact with the group was established late Tuesday night but the gunfight broke out early Wednesday morning and all the five militants were eliminated," said a defence official.

According to sources, the security forces have blown up a terrorist hideout in the region. The Army suspects that at least five terrorists are holding up inside a house.

The Bandipora encounter is 34th encounter in 46 days in the state. (ANI)