5 LeT, HM militants killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 15 Five activists having a place with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam region of Jammu and Kashmir Saturday, authorities said.

Five militants have been killed in the operation at Chowgam in Kulgam region of south Kashmir, an Army official said here.

He said weapons and war-like stores have been recovered from the experience site.

The activity is finished, the authority said.

The encounter between the militants and security forces started began this morning after the forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the region following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants there.

While the forces were conducting the searches, the militants fired upon the forces, ensuing a gunfight.

A police official said the militants had a place with two outfits of LeT and HM and their killing was a huge success for the forces.

"It is huge success for police and security forces. The activists had a place with both HM and LeT," he said.

He said most of the slain militants were "involved in a series of terror acts including killing of two bank workers and many policemen".

"They were also involved in bank robberies and weapon looting," the police official said.

Meanwhile, clashes broke out close to the site of the encounter as groups of youths began pelting stones on the forces, the authority said.

He said a few youths have been injured in the forces' action on the protesters.

Train services between Baramulla and Qazigund have been suspended because of law and order problems.