Jammu, March 20
Three Pakistani militants were among five persons killed and four jawans injured in two separate encounters in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir since last night, official sources said here today.
Acting on specific information, troops launched an operation in the Harni area of Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district last night, the sources said, adding that an encounter took place during the operation.
In the gunbattle, one top Lashker-e-Toiba militant, identified as Abu Husma of Pakistan, was killed. One AK rifle, three magazines, seven grenades and some ammunition were seized from him.
One jawan was also injured in this encounter and was later hospitalised, they said.
Troops shot dead one militant
identified as Abu Zakir of the LeT in an encounter in the forward area near the LoC in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district last night, they said, adding one jawan, who was injured in the encounter, was hospitalised.
The security forces recovered the bullet-riddled body of an overground worker of the LeT, identified as Kalu, in the Kalaban area of Bhudal tehsil of Rajouri district last night, they said. He was working as a guide of the LeT outfit in the district, they said.
In another encounter in the Dumma Top area in Poonch, a Pakistani militant, Hyder Ali, belonging to Jaish-e-Mohmmad was killed today. Two Army jawans were injured, they said.
The recoveries from the spot of the encounter included one AK rifle, four magazines, 60 cartridges and one grenade, the sources said.
The body of a civilian, Mubarik Hussain, was recovered from the Batote area of Doda district early today, the sources said, adding that he may have been kidnapped by militants and later killed.
Troops busted a militant hideout at Rajada village in the Mandi belt of Poonch district last night and seized five rocket projectile grenade bombs and four 62-mm mortar bombs.
Another hideout was smashed in the Thanamandi forest belt last night and two AK rifles, 157 cartridges, 338 cartridges of PIKA gun, 10 electric detonators, 12 UBGL grenades and one RPG booster were seized, they said.
Troops also busted a hideout at another place in the Thanamandi belt of Rajouri district early today and seized one PIKA gun and belted ammunition, they said.
Troops recovered one polythene bag containing 383 AK cartridges, 17 UBGL grenades and 500 gm of RDX from a hideout in the Katamai forest in Rajouri district, they said.
Another hideout was busted in the Dodasan area in Rajouri district and 12 UBGL bombs, 50 cartridges, one RPG booster and two AK rifles were seized, the sources said.
However, no one has been arrested in these operations, they added.
Two civilians were injured in a powerful landmine explosion in Poonch district today, official sources said.
The two men were returning home when they stepped on a landmine in the forward area of Salotri along the Line of Control this afternoon, they said. — PTI
