Elsewhere, three security personnel, including a Border Security Force officer, were killed and two women injured in shelling and firing by Pakistani troops along the international border and Line of Control in the division since yesterday.

The spokesman said troops noticed a heavily armed group of about 50 militants and Pakistani regulars sneaking into the Indian side from across the LoC via the Noushera sector early today.

The troops instantly opened fire, killing three of them including a Junior Commissioned Officer Subedar Mohammad Farid Khan while JCO Subedar Mohammad Fazal Khan was seriously injured. Both the JCOs belonged to the 658 Mujahid Battalion, he said.

Pakistani troops provided heavy fire cover to the intruders, who fled to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, hesaid.

This was the second major infiltration bid foiled by the Army in the area since the commencement of the Kargil crisis.

In other incidents along the LoC, one Pakistani soldier was shot dead in an exchange of fire with Indian troops in the same sector while two Pakistan Army regulars were killed in another exchange of fire in Jourian sector, the spokesman said, adding there was no casualty on the Indian side in this sector.

Meanwhile, in the continued firing and shelling from across the border, three security personnel, including a BSF sub-inspector, were killed and two women injured since yesterday, official reports said here.

BSF sub-inspector Ajit Singh died in Pakistani firing in Poonch last night while BSF constable G C Gosh succumbed to bullet injuries in R S Pura this evening.