Five militants, IAF commando killed in Kashmir encounter

At least five militants and and India Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed in an ongoing encounter between ultras and security forces in Hajin area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Saturday.

Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said that five militants were killed in the ongoing gunfight.

"One IAF Guard was also martyred and one army soldier injured in the operation which continues," he said.

Sources said the encounter broke out in Chandergair village of Hajin after a joint team of Army's 13-Rashtriya Rifles, special operations group (SOG) of J&K police and 45 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon-and-search-operation after specific inputs about presence of group of around 8-10 militants.

"As the search approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering an encounter. Exchange of fire is going on as three to five more militants might be hiding in the area," they said.

Unconfirmed reports said one of the slain militants is son of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

The slain militants belong to Lashker-e-Toiba and some of them could be from Jaish-e-Mohammad. "It seems that LeT and Jaish militants were having a meeting in the area when the forces got a tip off," sources said.