M A I N   N E W S

2 jawans killed in blast

JAMMU, June 24 (PTI, UNI) — Two Army jawans were killed and two injured when militants blew up an Army vehicle at Chasana area or Reasi road Udhampur district today, the police said here.

A Jonga, carrying three jawans, was on its way from Chasana to Angrala village, when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by militants went off blowing up the vehicle.

The vehicle was completely damaged. Two jawans died at the scene and one received minor injuries and was admitted to a hospital.

One civilian also received bullet injuries as the militants fired in the area of the blast, the sources said.

The troops arrested two ultras from the Lathi area of Udhampur district today and seized four grenades, 10 detonators, four IED boxes and a radio set from their possession.

In another incident, three top members of Lashker-e-Toiba’s suicide squad were killed when the Army foiled an attack on its post by the militant outfit in Jammu region’s Poonch district today, official sources said.

They said a group of Laskher’s militants attacked the Army post in Surankote area at 2 a.m. and in the resultant gunbattle lasting four hours, the three ultras were killed.

One of the slain militants was identified as area commander of Lashker-e-Toiba Abu Talha, the sources said.

An AK 56 rifle, one Chinese pistol, six magazines, one wireless set, and 94 rounds were recovered from the encounter site.

A massive search operation has been launched to nab the injured militants.

Meanwhile, the security forces killed three top militants of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen in an encounter in Thanamandi area of Rajouri district yesterday.

Troops also apprehended four militants in the district.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said troops of the Romeo force conducted a search operation at Bela village near Thanamandi in Rajouri district to nab some militants.

As the troops were conducting the operation, militants started firing on the party which was retaliated and in the ensuing encounter three top militants were killed while another was injured, he said, adding that the injured militant managed to escape taking advantage of the dense forests around the village. A massive operation had been launched to nab the militant.