M A I N   N E W S

Two Army officers killed in J&K
Tribune News Service and Agencies

Srinagar, May 8
Two Army officers and at least seven militants were killed while a major tragedy was averted in the Kashmir valley overnight.

Official sources said two Army officers, who were injured in an encounter at Sonamarg yesterday, died in the hospital today. Five militants were also gunned down by the security forces during the encounter.

In another encounter today, security forces killed two militants at Takibal Lolab, when a search party was attacked. Two AK rifles and other arms and ammunition were also seized from the slain militants.

Meanwhile, the security forces averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a mine near Jehangir Hotel today.

Two persons were injured when security forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators in the central Kashmir district of Badgam today.

The demonstrators were protesting against the arrest of some youth by security forces during a search operation.

The security forces also busted a hideout of militants at Surankote in Poonch district and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition. The seizures include four timer devices, five programmable devices, one detonator box, 18 detonators, four mortar bombs, one AK bayonet, one IED, one RPG sight, one UBGL launcher, five hand grenades and some rounds of AK rifles.

Two foreign militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and two security forces personnel were killed and seven others were injured in an encounter at Sheikhpora Panzala in Baramula district yesterday. The militants were identified as Abu Umar Shakir and Abu Saad, residents of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Two AK rifles, four magazines, 113 rounds, one UBGL, one radio set and Indian currency of Rs 300 were seized from the slain militants, the police here said.

Two unidentified foreign militants were killed in an exchange of fire with a joint ambush party of the Army and police in Sogam area of Kupwara district early this morning.