Four militants, three soldiers killed in two encounters

Four militants and threesoldiers were killed while 9 other security personnel and a civilian were injuredin two separate encounters in Kashmir, officials said.
An encounter took place in Parray Mohalla of Hajin area of Bandipora district this morning after security forces cordoned it off following information about presence of militants there, a police official said.
As the security forces were closing in, they came under fire from the hiding militants, the official said.
Tensecurity personnel, including an officer,were injured in the exchange of fire with the militants.
Of them, three personnel succumbed to their injuries later, the official said.
One militant, whose identity has not been ascertained yet, was also killed in the operation, he added.

Another encounter took place in Kralgund area of Kupwara district later in the day.

Three militants hiding in a residential house were killed by security forces during this gunbattle, the official said.
One soldier was also injured in the encounter, he added.
The two encounters took place two days after four militants and two soldierswere killed in a gunbattle in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Twocivilians were also killed in that encounter.