Six militants, and a soldier killed in two Kashmir encounters

Six militants and a soldier were killed and two army men were injured in two separate encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir where an infiltration bid was foiled, police and army said on Friday.

According to the Army, in one incident, four militants were killed in a two-day anti-infiltration operation along the Line of Control in Naugam sector in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.36-year-old  Army Havildar Hangpand Dada also lost his life in the gunfight with the heavily-armed terrorists who were spotted trying to sneak into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir yesterday, an army official said. He also said the bodies of the terrorists were recovered from the site along with four AK-47 Rifles, ammunition and other war-like stores.

Dada, who led his team, was seriously injured during the gun fight and succumbed to injuries while being evacuated to Army Base Hospital, the official said. Dada is survived by wife, a daughter and a son. Giving details of the operation, the official said troops deployed in the sector observed movement of a group of terrorists."The counter infiltration grid was reinforced while the terrorists were kept under constant surveillance till they could be effectively engaged," he said, adding army troops successfully foiled the infiltration bid.He further said that the identity of four militants is yet to be ascertained and security forces are continuing search and sanitization operation in the area.

In a separate incident, two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Tangmarg area of Baramulla district today, police said.The gunbattle erupted after a joint team of police, army and CRPF launched cordon and search operation in the wee hours in Khonchipora village, about 35 kms from here, following information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

He further said "The hiding militants were asked to surrender which they refused and instead fired upon the joint search party, resulting in an encounter."The slain militants have been identified as Mehraj Ahmad Bhat and Aadil Ahmad, residents of Pattan and Sopore towns of the district, respectively.

They were associated with Hizbul Mujhaideen, he said, adding two AK assault rifles were recovered from the scene of the gunbattle. Two army soldiers were also injured in the operation, an army official said.