M A I N   N E W S

10 militants killed in J&K

SRINAGAR, May 17 (PTI) — At least 17 persons, including 10 militants and two Army personnel, were killed in separate incidents while the security forces foiled an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening. The intrusion attempt by a group of militants was frustrated in the Sunderbani area of Rajouri sector last evening when security forces killed two of the intruders, an official spokesman said here today.

He said other militants retreated towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after Indian soldiers attacked them.

In another incident on the Line of Control, a Pakistani militant, Gul Zareen, was killed when he stepped over a landmine while infiltrating to the Indian territory at Peer Bud last night, the spokesman said.

With the killing of the three infiltrators, the number of militants who lost their lives while trying to sneak into the state during the last 36 hours had gone up to nine.

Six militants were shot dead by the security forces in Karnah sector of Kupwara district on Monday night.

The spokesman said four militants and an Army jawan were killed and two security personnel wounded in an encounter at Dudasan Bala in Rajouri district yesterday.

Of the four slain militants, two have been identified as belonging to Afghanistan and two to Pakistan, he said. Troops gunned down a top commander of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen, Wahid Khan, in a gunfight at Khadi Marg area of Darhal in Rajouri district yesterday, the spokesman said.

Security forces shot dead two militants in an encounter at Kanjikul-Yaripora in Anantnag district yesterday, he said.

A soldier of the Rashtriya Rifle troops was killed and another injured in a landmine blast at Khadi-Hira area of Doda district while they were returning after patrol duty yesterday, he said.

Militants detonated a landmine at Tarana on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, seriously wounded two jawans, he said.

Unidentified militants shot dead a civilian at Balgarden in Srinagar today, he said.

Unidentified gunmen shot dead one man in his village at Wardwan in Badgam district of central Kashmir last night, he said.

A civilian was killed in cross-firing between militants and security forces in the Trinkla area of Gandoh tehsil last in Baramulla district last night, while body of one person was fished out from river Jhelum at Mirgund in Baramulla last night, the spokesman said.