Four heavily-armed militants were killed as Army troops scuttled two separate infiltration bids along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir today.
All the four militants, attempting to sneak into Kashmir Valley from across the border, were killed in a fierce gunbattle in Macchil sector of Kupwara district, a defence spokesman said.
Troops guarding the LoC observed movement of militants in the wee hours and challenged them, he said.
The ultras opened fire in an attempt to escape.
However, the troops fired back and in the ensuing encounter, four militants were killed, the spokesman said, adding a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene of the encounter.
The operation in the area was still on when last reports were received, the spokesman said.
Another counter-infiltration operation was in progress in Hafruda forests of nearby Handwara area in the district, he said.
Army sources said helicopters were used to assist the ground troops to keep track of the infiltrating column of militants.
The defence spokesman, however, said he had no knowledge of helicopters being used in the operation.
Infiltration along the LoC in Kupwara district has started picking up with one militant being killed in a failed bid yesterday in Keran sector of the district.
