Captain, 21 militants killed

SRINAGAR, Nov 25 (UNI,PTI) — Four security personnel, including an Army Captain and 21 militants, were among 27 persons killed in the Kashmir valley in the past 24 hours.

Official sources said militants detonated a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) at Nehalpora Pattan near an Army camp at about 10.30 a.m. today.

The sources said three Army personnel were killed on the spot and three others critically wounded in the blast. The area had been cordoned off and a massive hunt launched to nab the militants responsible for the blast.

No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the blast.

An encounter took place between the militants and the security forces at Qazigund in Anantnag district today during which two militants were killed. An Army Captain Sulesh Pillia also lost his life, the sources said.

Security forces shot dead four militants during a fierce encounter at Faheen village in Kulgam tehsil of Pulwama district today. Details were awaited, the sources said.

A Defence Ministry spokesman told UNI today that eight militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Sundabrar forest area 7 km south east of Kokernag today.

Four more militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Lankar Pamai village, while one militant was killed at Tral.

Ten AK rifles with five magazines and 20 rounds, one pistol with one magazine, one AK grenade launcher and four radio sets have been recovered from the killed militants.

One militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces near Qasbabiru this afternoon. One AK rifle, four magazines with 105 rounds and three hand grenades had been recovered from the killed militant.

An official spokesman said an encounter took place between the militants and the security forces during a search operation at Payand Tral in Pulwama district on Thursday.

One militant was killed and two security personnel received bullet injuries. A civilian also died in the shootout.

Militants gunned down one person at Wahipora in Kupwara district late last night.

JAMMU: Troops foiled two infiltration bids in the Salotri and Balakote areas while four militants were shot dead by the security forces during encounters in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu division since yesterday, official sources said today.

The troops spotted the movement of militants, including foreign mercenaries, sneaking into the Salotri area of Poonch district yesterday.

As the troops challenged them, the militants opened fire which was retaliated, the sources said, adding Pakistani troops also provided firing cover to the militants.

However, the militants retreated back to the Pakistani side. During the exchange of fire, one Pakistani post also caught fire.

In another incident, troops shot dead two militants in the Balakote area when they were trying to cross over to Indian side under the firing cover by Pakistani troops early yesterday.

During a "seek and destroy" operation jointly launched by the Army and the police, two hardcore foreign militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba were shot dead in the Hari Budha area of Rajouri district.

The slain militants had been identified as Abu Rashid alias Abu Saidulla and Abu Katal Asgari, both residents of Pakistan and belonging to the Lashkar.

Recoveries made from slain militants included two AK-56 rifles, four magazines, 56 rounds of ammunition, six hand grenades, one radio set and one radio battery. Three policemen also suffered injuries in the encounter, the sources said.