4 jawans, 1 militant killed in encounters in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Four jawans were today killed in a fierce gunbattle with militants in a forest area in Kupwara in Kashmir Valley, while a militant was shot dead in a separate encounter in the district.

Four jawans lost their lives in a gunbattle with the militants during an operation launched in Haphruda forest in Handwara following information about presence of militants there, an Army spokesperson said.

One militant was killed in a separate encounter that broke out during an operation in Lolab area, the spokesperson said.

Yesterday, two militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad ( JeM) outfit, believed to be Pakistanis, were killed and a soldier was injured in an encounter in Pulwama district.

The slain militants were identified as Salim alias Adil Pathan and Rehman alias Burmi, police sources had said, adding they were suspected to be Pakistani nationals.

Pakistan-based JeM has been responsible for several major attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi, including the one on Parliament on December 13, 2001.