Security forces captured two militants and averted two major tragedies in the valley during the period. A defence ministry spokesman said that the troops, on receiving information, launched a house-to-house search at village Kalaroos last night.

When the troops were moving forward to seal the exit points, they were heavily fired upon by militants from different directions with automatic weapons, he said.

He added that unidentified militants shot dead one Khadim Hussain, an agricultural assistant and a government teacher, Mohammad Din Sarwar, at Dankote Darhal late last night.

He said the militants also kidnapped two persons, Krishen Lal and Noor Mohammad. While Lal was tortured to death, the latter was released in a very critical condition at Dhar Baghar lastevening.

He said militants and police guards exchanged fire at the Wahthora bridge on the Srinagar-Charar-e-Sharief road last evening, in which one person was wounded. Security forces averted two major tragedies when they detected and later defused two improvsied explosive devices planted by militants at Zakoora on the outskirts of Srinagar city and near the degree college at Rajouri last evening, he added.

The spokesman forces captured one militant each at Baramulla and Srinagar during overnight operations.