Jammu: In a major catch ahead of Republic Day, Army troops today (Jan 23, 2004) shot dead two Pakistani Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including a self-styled battalion commander of the banned outfit, in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.

Acting on specific information about the presence of a group of LeT militants preparing to strike on the eve of Republic Day, the forces launched a cordon and search operation in Mohra-Bachie hills of Surankote tehsil this afternoon and zeroed in on their hideout amidst heavy snowfall, the sources said.

As the troops and militants exchanged fire, two terrorists of the outfit were killed, the sources said, adding that two more militants were still holed in the hideout and the operation was on when reports last came in.

The slain militants were identified as Mohammad Sabir codenamed Abu Harari, a so-called battalion commander, and Abu Towheed, both belonging to Pakistan.

The recoveries made from the spot included two AK rifles, six magazines, 269 rounds, 14 hand grenades and eight kgs IEDs, the sources said.

This was the second encounter with militants since the Indo-Pak ceasefire on line of control (LoC) from November 26 in Poonch district, also known to the operational hub of militants, they said.

On November 30, 7 militants were killed on LoC in Poonch area, the sources said.