Jammu, June 1
Troops and the police achieved a major success in their anti-insurgency operations today when seven militants, all Afghan mercenaries, were killed at Loren Mandi in the border district of Rajouri.

According to the Army authorities, all seven guerrillas had crossed into the Indian territory during the early hours of this morning. On receipt of information about the infiltration, the Army and the police launched a joint operation. As the forces neared the hideout, they came under fire. The troops retaliated, killing all seven intruders on the spot.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.

The Army said during the past one week more than 25 dreaded militants had been eliminated in Poonch and Rajouri districts where “Operation Flushout” was in progress. They said more than 225 rebels had been eliminated in the twin border districts during the past over five months.

The security forces have been directed to carry out round-the-clock patrolling. A vital bridge was saved from being blown up by the militants yesterday who had planted 15 kg of IED. The IED was defused on time.

Another militant was killed by the security forces in Sangyot area in Poonch district last night, add agencies. The militant, identified as Abu Asif of the Lashker-e-Toiba, belonged to occupied Kashmir.

A pistol with two magazines, two hand grenades and a huge quantity of explosives and ‘incriminating’ material were recovered from him.

Two jawans were killed in an encounter with militants in Surankote area of Poonch district.

Elsewhere, three foreign mercenaries were killed in an encounter with a joint search party of the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Rangwar forest in Kupwara yesterday.

A BSF jawan was killed when militants opened fire at a search party in Bandipora area of Baramula district late last night.