Kupwara, Mar 24: Two militants were killed in an encounter with the army troopers in the Keran sector of this frontier district Wednesday.
According to defence spokesman troops guarding the Line of Control (LoC) near “Ustad Post” in Keran sector noticed movement of six to eight heavily armed militants.
 On being challenged by troopers, militants opened fire, which was retaliated, triggering a major gunfight along the LOC that continued till this afternoon.
 “In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and some two to four militants have received injuries, who are either hiding in the dense forests or might have fled to other side of the LoC. Army has cordoned off the area adjacent to LoC and search operation is continuing to trace the injured militants” said Srinagar based Defence spokesman Col JS Brar.
 He said 2 AK rifles, 155 rounds of ammunition, four grenades, one Thuraya radio set, one ICOM radio set and a mobile phone besides a large quantity of war-like material was recovered from the killed militants.
 Pertinently, security forces have launched a massive search operation in the Kupwara sector along the LoC.
 Meanwhile, security forces claimed to have arrested a top militant of Hizbul Mujahideen in Bandipora district of north Kashmir this evening.
 Ghulam Rasool Malik alias Aftab, a top militant of Hizbul Mujahideen was apprehended jointly by the troops of 13 Rashtriya Rifles and local police at Shahgund-Sonawari, 35 kms from here around 5 pm.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST