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Officer, 28 ultras killed in encounters

Srinagar, September 29
Security forces killed 28 militants, including five Pakistani infiltrators and a Lashkar commander, and averted a major tragedy while militants killed three security personnel, including an officer and a civilian, in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

Official sources said the security forces noticed a group of heavily-armed militants sneaking into this side at Rajdan pass in the Gurez sector early this morning.

When challenged, the militants opened fire. In the return fire, all five infiltrators were killed.

However, an official spokesman said four militants were killed and the operation was still going on.

He said an encounter took place between the militants and the security forces at Ari Mandi village in Poonch district this morning during which seven militants were killed.

The operation was going on when reports last reached here.

He said the security forces did not suffer any casualties.

In a similar clash at Khela Darmad village in Balakote sector of the same district, the security forces shot five militants last night.

Four AK rifles, 557 rounds, a pistol, 22 magazines, five RPG rockets and 25 kg of explosives were recovered from the slain militants. UNI

High alert sounded in Chamba
Our Correspondent

The DIG, Mr Prathvi Raj, who returned after a four-day tour of the forward posts of Chamba, said high alert had been sounded to thwart the entry of the militants in Himachal Pradesh.