Srinagar, July 11: Three militants, including a self-styled district chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad, and two army personnel were killed in separate encounters in north Kashmir, where a major tragedy was averted on Sopore-Kupwara highway today, official sources said. The commander of JeM Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir was killed in an encounter with army at village Khumboori in Handwara area of Kupwara district last night, the sources said adding two jawans were injured in the incident. Army raided the village late last night following specific information about presence of militants in the area. As the were encircling the area, militants opened fire killing riflemen Sudhir Kumar and Dindoori, the sources said adding the troops retaliated and in the ensuing gunbattle killed two unidentified militants.
Meanwhile, a road opening party of BSF detected a powerful IED planted by militants at village Haigam on sopore-Kupwara highway this morning which was later defused, the sources added.

Bureau Report