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Seven top foreign militants killed in Jammu encounter

At least seven top foreign militants including a sector commander of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and an army jawan were killed in a fierce encounter which took place in the border district of Poonch late last night, official sources said in Jammu today.

Elsewhere in the Jammu region two militants, including a foreigner, were killed in two separate encounters while the security forces recovered arms and ammunition during search operations.

Sources said acting on a tip-off about the militants, 17 Rashtriya Rifles jawans assisted by the local police launched a massive search operation at village Hari Budha in Surrankote area of Poonch district last evening.

During the operation, militants attacked the search party with automatic weapons from different directions. The security forces retaliated effectively, the sources said.

In the encounter seven top foreign militants including the sector commander were killed on the spot while an army jawan also lost his life and two others were injured seriously, the sources added.

Meanwhile, militants made a series of grenade attacks on security force camps and pickets in Srinagar while one body was recovered at Ganderbal today.

Official sources said militants lobbed two hand grenades on a security force picket at Exhibition Road today which exploded after hitting a tree. No damage was reported. Ministers use the Exhibition Road daily to reach the civil secretariat.

Militants also hurled three hand grenades on a Border Security Force camp at Karan Nagar this afternoon. However, the grenades missed the intended target and exploded without causing any damage.

The sources said one person was injured in a grenade explosion near the security force picket near medical college last night.

The body of one Abdul Rashid Baba was recovered from Ganderbal this morning while forces recovered one AK rifle, two magazines, 130 rounds, one kilogram of explosive and one rifle grenade at Nowgam last evening.

UNI

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