Soldier, 3 militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar: A soldier and three Pakistani militants were killed on Tuesday in two separate gunfights in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Police said the militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in a battle with security forces in Magam area. "The operation against the militants in Magam area has ended but another gunfight started between the security forces and militants in the Gujarpati forested area," a police officer said.

"As the security forces tightened the cordon around the hiding militants in Gujarpati, the militants fired at them, killing a soldier and injuring two other soldiers. The encounter is still on."

Three other Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists have been neutralised in Magam area of Handwara district in North Kashmir, informed Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday morning. He also said that all the three terrorists were Pakistanis.

“Pakistan is trying hard to push as many militants as they can across the LoC and anytime snowfall will start, so, this is the time we should be very alert,” he added. The development comes just two days after six Pakistani militants of the LeT, including the nephew of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, were gunned down in Hajin area of Bandipora in an encounter in which an IAF Garud commando was also killed.