Srinagar: Thirteen persons including nine militants and a junior commissioned officer of the army were killed in militancy-related incidents across Jammu and Kashmir since last night, an official spokesman said in Srinagar today (July 11, 2004).

Security forces foiled an infiltration bid by militants in Macchil sector of Kupwara district near the Line of Control (LoC), the spokesman said.

Three militants were killed and two apprehended during an operation in Macchil sector last night as they were trying to sneak into this side of LoC, he said.

The spokesman said an ambush was laid following a specific intelligence input about a group of ultras trying to sneak into the valley from the Macchil area. A gunbattle ensued as soon as a contact was established and three ultras were slain while two were apprehended.

He said large quantities of arms and ammunition including five AK rifles and several hand grenades were recovered from the site of the operation. Three militants and an army officer were killed in a fierce encounter in Anantnag district, the spokesman said.

The encounter broke out at Kulgam, 70 kms from here, last night when militants hiding there opened fire on the security forces, who had cordoned the village on specific information -about presence of militants there, he said.

In the ensuing encounter, three militants and a junior commissioned officer of army were killed, he said.

One militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir township of Uri in Baramulla district, the spokesman said.