Two LeT militants killed in encounter

Srinagar: Two Lashker-e-Toiba militants were killed and an Army officer was injured in an encounter between the two sides in Handwara area of north Kashmir`s Kupwara district on Monday.

The encounter took place at village Malikpora in Vilgam area of Handwara, 85 kms from here, when Army and police launched a joint search operation following information about presence of militants there, a senior police officer said. He said the hiding militants opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated, triggering off a fierce gunbattle which lasted several hours. Two militants, believed to be foreigners, were killed and an Army officer identified as Major Sandeep Kotwal was injured in the gunbattle. Some arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of the slain militants.