Jammu, June 14: Ten Pakistani ultras belonging to Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were gunned down by security forces in an encounter today in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. On a specific information about presence of a large group of foreign mercenaries belonging to Pakistan and Afghanistan, a joint operation of Army and police was launched in Hardi mountains of Surankote belt of Poonch district this morning, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mukesh Singh said. Singh, who is supervising the operation, said the ultras had fired from their upper positions on the joint party of security forces, who retaliated killing Ten Pakistani militants belonging to LeT on the spot in the ensuing exchange of fire.
Six AK rifles, one Pika gun, two pistols, 14 magazines, 390 rounds, eight grenades, three IEDs, two radio sets, 17 detonators, 19 UBGL grenades and some documents were recovered from the area. This is the eighth major strike against militants in Surankote hills of Poonch district, where 68 ultras have been killed during past over five months.
In first major strike, Operation `Sarp Vinash`, 14 Pakistani militants were killed in Hill Kaka last month followed by killing of 12 ultras in Balnoi forest belt in Poonch.
The troops also foiled a major tragedy when they recovered 4.5 kg IED fitted with a detonator from Thanamandi area of Rajouri district late last night and defused it later, the official sources said. Bureau Report