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Jammu: Eight persons, including six ultras were killed and one special police officer (SPO) was injured in separate militancy-related incidents in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu division, where security forces also busted two hideouts and apprehended a suspected militant since July 20 night, official sources said.

Security forces during "seek and destroy" operation eliminated four ultras of Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami (HuJI) outfit at Solian Hari area of Surankote tehsil of Poonch district on July 21 afternoon, they said, adding the operation was continuing when the last reports came in.

Three AK-56 rifles, one pika gun, besides other arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants. One of the killed militants has been identified as Rasheed.

Security forces also busted two hideouts in Solian area and recovered some arms and ammunition from them. However, the details of the recoveries were awaited, the sources said.

In another incident in Surankote area, unidentified militants barged into the house of one SPO Mohammad Jameel in Marah village on July 20 night and resorted to indiscriminate firing there.

In the shootout, Jameel and his sister Farida Begum were killed on the spot, the sources said, adding two other inmates of the family who got injured were later hospitalised.

One SPO Abdul Aijaz received bullet wounds in his left hand during an encounter between security forces and militants at Bandi Chachian area of Poonch district on July 20 night.

Security forces also apprehended one suspected militant on the outskirts of Poonch town during the period, they said.

Reports from Rajouri district said that security forces killed two ultras out of a group of five near Line of Control (LoC) in forest area of Chingus on July 21.

Three other ultras were still hiding in the area and security forces were continuing search operation to track them down, the sources said.

PTI