Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

5 militants killed by forces in J&K

- Mir Ehsan mir.ehsan@htlive.com

Five militants were killed in two different encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. Two militants were killed in north Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla town in a shootout at a security checkpost on the national highway on Friday afternoon, police said.

The shootout began after police stopped an SUV and asked for identifica­tion papers from the occupants of the vehicle near a checkpost at Kralhaar, barely two kilometres from the main Baramulla town. The vehicle was stopped at a place manned by the police and the CRPF for checking of suspected vehicles.

Police said that an occupant opened fire on the police party who retaliated, killing one, while another escaped. “Later, the other militant was also killed by the members of the patrol party,” said Imtiaz Hussain, Baramulla’s senior superinten­dent of police (SSP). Hussain said an AK assault rifle and two Chinese pistols, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher and three grenades were seized from them. The identity of the militants has not been ascertaine­d.

The other passengers in the vehicle escaped unhurt. Police has seized the vehicle and arrested its driver, a local from Baramulla, who is now being questioned. One police officer sustained minor injuries in the shootout.

Officials said that documents recovered from the slain militants reveal that one of them could be a Pakistani militant.

This is the second incident in Baramulla district of militants being intercepte­d at a checkpost. On Wednesday, three policemen, including an officer were injured when militants hurled a grenade at a police party at Pattan. Later, police captured one militant alive and claimed that another militant was killed in a shootout at Pulwama.

Earlier on Friday morning, the army claimed to have killed three unidentifi­ed militants in Rampur area of Uri, close to the Line of Control (LoC). The operation began on Thursday morning after soldiers spotted a group of militants near Tourna Post, close to the LoC, and challenged them. A defence spokespers­on said soldiers retaliated after the infiltrato­rs opened fire. Three infiltrato­rs were killed in the gunfight.

The identity of the slain men were not immediatel­y known. Officials privy to the details of the encounter said that four weapons were recovered from the encounter site which indicates that more militants could be in the area. Army spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that operation is still in progress.

SRINAGAR:

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