Thursday, June 9 2005 17:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Foiling a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC), Army today (Jun 9, 2005) shot dead six militants in an encounter in Kupwara district but lost one of their jawans in the operation, official sources said in Srinagar.

Troops guarding the LoC observed a group of heavily-armed militants trying to infiltrate from across the border in Keran sector in Kupwara early today, the sources said.

Multiple ambushes were immediately laid and the armed infiltrators were challenged. However, they opened fire in a bid to escape and in the ensuing gunbattle, six militants and an Army jawan were killed, the sources said.

Details of the militants and their group affiliation were still awaited as the operation was in progress.