Troops gunned down five heavily armed Pakistani infiltrators on Wednesday immediately after they sneaked across the Line of Control from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Machil sector in Jammu and Kashmir [Images].

A defence spokesman told UNI that one soldier lost his life and two others were wounded in the encounter, which broke out early Wednesday morning when the infiltrators were challenged and asked to surrender. But the infiltrators resorted to gunfire with automatic weapons and also hurled hand grenades.

Efforts were being made from across the border to send as many militants into this side as possible before the infiltrating routes were closed due to snowfall, the spokesman said, adding that more than 50 militants have been killed by security forces this year after they sneaked into this side after the melting of snow on the high peaks.

A senior security force official said more than 1,500 militants were waiting across the border in launching pads near the LoC waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen terrorists have surrendered along with arms and ammunition immediately after crossing over from PoK during the past six months. On Monday, four militants surrendered along with arms and ammunition before security forces in Uri sector after infiltrating into this side.

A number of ex-filtration attempts were also foiled by the alert security forces after they arrested more than 40 youths who were being taken to PoK by different militant organisations for arms training in the camps set up across the border. The youths were later handed over to their families.

Elsewhere in the state, a soldier and a woman were among five people killed during the past 24 hours. An official spokesman said the Khandaypora encounter in south Kashmir which ensued after a patrol party was attacked by militants on August 14, ended on Tuesday evening.

He said two civilians were killed and four others were injured in the incident. A soldier was also killed and four security force personnel were wounded in the gunfight.