M A I N   N E W S

Infiltration attempt, five ultras killed

Jammu, June 9
Army troops today foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC and shot dead five Pakistani militants in Jammu and Kashmir, where a jawan was killed in a separate encounter, official sources said here.

On specific information, troops laid ambushes in Dera Nangali Sahib forest belt of Poonch district early today. Around 7 a.m., the jawans saw a group of militants approaching.

On seeing the jawans, the militants threw grenades and fired at them. The jawans retaliated and in the exchange of fire, three ultras were killed on the spot, the sources said.

The other militants tried to flee but the jawans chased them and shot dead two more ultras. The operation to track down militants was still on, they added.

Five AK rifles, 17 magazines, 230 rounds, two pistols, 19 grenades and some explosive material were seized from the site, the sources said.

In another encounter, an Army jawan was killed in an encounter with ultras in Banihal area of Doda district today, the sources said, adding that the fighting was still continuing.

SRINAGAR: A self-styled district commander of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen was killed in an encounter with Rashtriya Rifles jawans in Kupwara on Monday, official sources said here.

The militant, identified as Tahir Mehmood of Attak village of Pakistan, was killed when the troops of 33 Rashtriya Rifles raided his hideout at Sokhpora village, the sources said.

They said Mehmood was asked to surrender but he opened fire at the troops. The troops returned fire and in the ensuing gunfight, the militant was killed.

An AK assault rifle, five magazines with 326 rounds, an under-barrel grenade launcher, six rifle grenades, two hand grenades and a wireless set were seized from the dead militant, the sources said.

Meanwhile, militants abducted and later killed a civilian at Wanigam-Tragbal in Baramulla district on Sunday night.

The bullet-riddled body of the victim was recovered on Monday the sources said.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has condemned the killing of four Hindus by militants in Kathua district of Jammu region on Sunday night.

“The killings at Channa Sergalle in Kathua and Darhal in Rajouri are tragic, gruesome and deserve to be condemned,” Mr Sayeed said during the question hour in the state Assembly on Monday. PTI