Jammu: Two ultras, including a self-styled tehsil commander of al-Badr outfit were killed and two others, one of them a civilian, injured in an encounter between militants and security forces in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir last evening (Dec 5, 2003), official sources said.

On specific inputs provided by the intelligence agencies, Army troops launched a search operation in Naili village in Manjakote area yesterday and found that two ultras had taken shelter in the house of one Abdul Khaliq, the sources said.

On being challenged by the troops, the militants opened fire but the security forces observed restraint till the inmates of the house were brought out, they said, adding in the subsequent gun battle, both the ultras were shot dead.

One of the slain ultras has been identified as Abu Hamza alias Sher Baz, tehsil commander of al-Badr and a resident of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. However, the identity of his associate could not be ascertained.

The recoveries from them included two AK rifles with its four magazines, two hand grenades, one tape recorder, one pouch, and a diary, the sources said.

One civilian, Mohammad Ishfaq, was injured in the cross firing and later shifted to hospital, they said adding, an Army jawan, Raju Rai Nair, was also injured. The house of Khaliq was gutted during the exchange of firing.

A delayed report said that one Army subedar Thoru Ram was injured at a border outpost in Kothe in Samba sector during de-mining operation on December 4. He was admitted to hospital, the sources said.

PTI