13 militants killed along LoC

Thirteen militants were killed by the army in two separate encounters on the Line of Control in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday.

"The troops of the army guarding the LoC in the Gulmarg sector spotted a group of nine militants, who were challenged immediately after they crossed into our side. The group resorted to heavy automatic fire and this resulted in an encounter that lasted for nearly three hours. All nine have been killed," Army spokesman, lieutenant Colonel V.K. Batra told this correspondent.

He also said that the army had successfully foiled another infiltration bid in the Keran sector of the LoC in Kupwara district in which four infiltrators were killed.

Two army soldiers were also injured in these encounters.

Elsewhere, the security forces killed another group of three militants in two different villages of north Kashmir Baramulla district Saturday. This has raised the total number of militants killed in the Valley on Saturday to 16.