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Avalanche kills seven soldiers in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Jammu feb 7--An avalanche swept away a military barracks Monday in mountainous Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing seven soldiers and injuring 15 others, a police spokesman said.
The avalanche smashed the barracks of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police near the Jawahar tunnel south of Srinagar, ITBP Maj. Manish Kumar said.
The 15 injured soldiers were moved to a military hospital in Srinagar, he said.
Heavy snowfall in the area since Saturday probably triggered the avalanche, Kumar said. Rescue workers were looking for more soldiers buried under two meters (seven feet) of snow, he added.
The Jawahar road tunnel is 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Srinagar, the summer capital of India's Jammu-Kashmir state.
Traffic policeman Ali Mohammed said roads in the area have been closed for traffic.


KASHMIR-ENCOUNTER
JAMMU, FEB 7--A Pakistani militant and a jawan were killed in a gunbattle in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here today.
Acting on intelligence reports, an operation was launched in Gursai forest area in Poonch district last night, they said adding an encounter took place in the area.
In the gunbattle, which continued till this morning, a Pakistani militant and jawan were killed, they said.
One AK rifle, four grenades, 70 rounds and a radio set were recovered from the spot, they said.