Srinagar: Four persons, including three militants and a special police officer (SPO) were killed in an encounter, even as five militants were arrested in separate operations and huge cache of arms including 110 kg of RDX were recovered in Jammu and Kashmir since May 25 night, a police spokesman said on May 26.

Three unidentified militants were killed in a gunfight, which broke out when police assisted by security forces raided a hideout at Danga Wali in Surankote area of Poonch district in Jammu region May 25 night, the spokesman said.

He said SPO Abdul Hamid also lost his life during the encounter. Three AK assault rifles were recovered from the killed ultras.

Security forces apprehended a top Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen militant Bashir Ahmad Lone alias Bilal from Ajar in Bandipora area of Baramulla district in North Kashmir and recovered 110 kgs of RDX, four AK assault rifles, eight hand grenades, nine under-barrel grenade launchers and a large quantity of ammunition and incriminating documents from two hideouts, which were later destroyed, the spokesman said.

He said a self-styled Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen company commander Gulzar Ahmad Kuchhay alias Bashara was apprehended by security forces along with a pistol, two grenades and a wireless set during search operations at Kungwatan in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.

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Three more militants were nabbed during searches at Manzgam-Shopian in Pulwama district, Sangarwain in Badgam district and Sangram Bhatta in Doda district on May 25 the spokesman said, adding two rifles, a pistol, four grenades two wireless sets and some ammunition were recovered from them.

PTI