Two militants killed in Jammu region

JAMMU - Two hardcore militants, including one belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were killed in separate operations in the remote mountainous parts of the Jammu region Thursday evening, an official spokesman said.

The police and army launched a joint operation in Keshwan area of Kishtwar district, about 220 km north-east of Jammu, based on specific information about presence of some militants there. The security forces noticed the movement of militants in the evening and the ensuring firefight led to the killing of a militant.

“The killed militant was a hardcore terrorist of the Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit from whom one Pika rifle has been recovered,” the spokesman said.

In a similar operation in Keri area of mountainous Rajouri district, about 180 km north-west of Jammu, security forces killed a militant. His identity is being ascertained, the spokesman said.

The security forces have intensified their campaign against the militants in the run up to Independence Day Aug 15.