5 Kashmiri rebels killed in gunfight

Acting on an intelligence input about the presence of a terrorist training camp in Dara Sangla forest belt in the district, the security forces cordoned off the area on Saturday morning, the sources said.

When the terrorists hiding there lobbed grenades and opened fire, the security forces retaliated. In the ensuing gun battle five terrorists, including Abu Fakri, a self-styled platoon commander of LeT, were killed.

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The operation was still on and two more terrorists are hiding in the area, they said.

Identities of other slain terrorists are being ascertained, they said adding five AK rifles, two pistols, 17 magazines, 318 rounds, nine grenades, four IEDS and some other materials have been recovered so far.

Elsehwere, in an apparent case of revenge killing, one Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist identified as Mohmmad Sharief was killed by LeT ultras in Mahore forest area of Udhampur district on Friday night, sources said.

Earlier Indian troops Friday ordered residents to stay indoors in a northern Kashmir town amid rising tensions after police shot dead a teenage protester, witnesses said.

Anti-riot paramilitary soldiers were deployed in strength on the deserted streets of Bandipora, 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, where the youth died Thursday.

"We have imposed strict restrictions on public movement to prevent further trouble," a police officer told AFP.