Five LeT militants shot dead in encounter in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 28: In the first major encounter in Kashmir this year, Security forces today shot dead five Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in Handwara area of Kupwara district.

"Five militants have been killed in an encounter in Handwara area," a defence spokesman said.

He said the militants were foreigners. The militants were asked to surrender after being confronted by the search party but they refused and opened fire, the spokesman said.

A police spokesman said security forces lauched an anti-militancy operation in Laribal-Peer Mohalla near Rajwar forests, 100 kms from here, following information about presence of militants in the area.

This is the first major gunbattle between security forces and militants in Kashmir Valley this year.

PTI