M A I N   N E W S

25 Pak troops killed 
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 28
In a fierce gunbattle between Pakistani and Indian troops in the Poonch sector, Pakistan suffered heavy casualties and other losses during the past 12 hours.

Reports received from the forward posts said the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling on the Indian posts and border villages in which certain houses suffered partial damage. 

The Indian troops retaliated with long-range guns, mortar bombs and other heavy-calibre weapons, destroying six Pakistani posts and 20 bunkers. At least 25 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 20 others were wounded.

According to these field reports, most of the Pakistani posts and bunkers were destroyed in and around the Pak Cheeri Kot area across “our” Digwar posts in Poonch.

Seven cops hurt in Srinagar blast

Srinagar, January 28
At least seven policemen and two civilians were injured in a grenade blast near Khanyar police station in the city this evening.

Official sources said militants hurled a handgrenade towards the police station, resulting in injuries to the policemen and civilians.

A police vehicle was also damaged in the blast.

The sources said the wounded had been shifted to a hospital.

The entire area has been cordoned off to nab those responsible for the blast.

JAMMU: Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were shot dead by the security forces in two encounters in Poonch and Doda districts of Jammu region on Monday.

Police sources said here that in the first encounter, in Hari Marhot area of Poonch district, two Lashkar ultras were gunned down. Following a tip-off that militants were hiding in the area, policemen and Army personnel launched a joint operation.

On seeing the security personnel, the terrorists opened fire. In the ensuing gunfight, which lasted for about two hours, two militants were killed, the sources said, adding that a huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized from the site of the encounter.

In an encounter in Kora area of Doda district, a Lashkar militant was killed after a gunbattle with the security forces. A Kalashnikov rifle, a few grenades and 90 rounds of ammunition were seized from his possession, the sources said. UNI