2 militants killed in gunfight in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 27 (IANS) Two militants were killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Saturday.

Police said security forces started a cordon and search operation in Bonbazar area of Shopian town early on Saturday after receiving information about the presence of militants there.

"As the cordon around the hiding militants was tightened, they fired at the security forces triggering an encounter in which two militants were killed," police said.

"The exact identify and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained, they added.

In another unrelated incident on Saturday morning, Lance Naik Rajender Singh of 57 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in Pakistan ceasefire violation on the Line of Control in Machil sector of Kupwara district .

"Lance Naik Rajender Singh suffered critical injuries in unprovoked Pakistan firing. He was taken to a nearby medical facility, but he succumbed to critical injuries," sources said.