Jammu: Three militants belonging to Pakistan and a woman were killed in separate encounters in Udhampur and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir today (Mar 1, 2004), official sources said.

A major combing operation was launched by the security forces in Arnas area of Udhampur district to track down a group of militants, the sources said.

As troops were heading towards the hideout, ultras fired rifle grenades and opened indiscriminate firing on the security forces, they said.

The security forces retaliated and in the exchange of fire, two Pakistani ultras were killed, the sources said adding the operation was still going on.

Two AK rifles, 4 magazines, 7 grenades, one rocket, 231 rounds and some documents were recovered from the area, they said.

In another incident, acting on an intelligence tip off, troops zeroed on a hideout close to Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Duligam in Doda district, they said.

Militants, who were hiding inside a house, fired on troops and in the ensuing gunfight, one Pakistani ultra and a woman were killed, the sources said adding another ultra was hiding in the area.

One AK rifle, 3 grenades, 2 magazines were recovered from the slain ultra, they said adding the operation was still on.

Five AK magazines, 102 rounds, 45 pika rounds, 3 mortar bombs, 2 grenades, 2 IEDs, 2 detonators were recovered by the troops from the hideout in Poonch district, the sources said.