Policeman killed in JK encounter

A policeman was killed during an encounter between security forces and militants in Sangiot area of Poonch district, the police said on Saturday.

Acting on specific information about the presence of militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Tayiba outfit, the state police and Rashtriya Rifle troops launched a joint operation in Sangiot area, 190-kms from Jammu, in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district on Friday evening, they said.

During the gunbattle, a policeman identified as Ruksar Ahmed Mirza was killed, they said, adding security forces had abandoned the operation late on Friday evening due to heavy rains in the area.