Jammu: Foiling an infiltration bid, security forces gunned down five Pakistani militants near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said in Jammu.

Alert troops, guarding the LoC, observed a group of five intruders sneaking into Indian side via Shahpur area from across the border in wee hours today (July 17, 2004), the sources said.

The troops immediately swung into action and challenged the intruders. In the ensuing gunbattle one of them was killed before noon, they said adding that remaining four were eliminated by this evening.

Search operations were continuing in the area when reports last came in. The identity of the slain ultras and the recoveries from them were being ascertained, the sources said.