SRINAGAR, May 27 — Five militants and a security force jawan were killed in an encounter in Behrampora area of Baramula district last night, while militants hurled grenades at three places causing minor damages in the valley since yesterday.

A police spokesman said here five unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Behrampora near Sopore in Baramula district last night. A security force jawan was also killed in the encounter while another was injured. The house of Mohammad Akbar Ganai was gutted in the exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces.

According to a defence spokesman, a search operation was launched in Behrampora on the receipt of a specific information about the presence of militants. “When asked to surrender, the terrorists did not do so and instead started firing at the troops. The troops immediately returned the fire. The exchange continued and the troops gradually closed in. So far the troops have been successful in killing five hardcore terrorists. They are from Pakistan and belong to Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit the spokesman stated. A large quantity of arms, ammunition, explosives and incriminating documents were recovered from the site of the encounter, he said.

Unidentified militants hurled a grenade on a picket of the security forces at Butshah Mohalla, Lal Bazar, here last evening. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the road, the police said adding that no harm was caused in the explosion.

In another incident, militants hurled a grenade towards the residence of Mr Dilawar Ahmad, a BJP leader at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag town yesterday. The grenade missed the target and exploded on the road. The cops on guard fired some shots in the air to scare away the suspected militants. No damage was caused in the incident, the police said.

Another grenade was hurled on the Jammu Srinagar highway at Beijbehara yesterday. The grenade, according to the police, was aimed at a vehicle of the security forces moving from Jammu to Srinagar. The grenade missed the target and hit a truck which was damaged.

Security forces approached two suspected militants from Chirwar Salia in Anantnag district. One pistol, a hand grenade and five rounds were recovered from them.

A BSF jawan was killed when the Pakistani Rangers fired indiscriminately at Indian positions along international border in RS Pora sub-sector of Jammu frontier early today.

The Pakistani Rangers resorted to firing from medium range weaponry without any provocation at more than 22 border outposts (BoPs) and civilian areas in R S Pora, Samba and Hiranagar sub-sectors of the Jammu-Kathua sector since last night.