Srinagar, Oct 18 (UNI) Troops today foiled yet another infiltration bid when they killed four militants near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector of north Kashmir's district of Kupwara, defence spokesman Lt Col A K Mathur said.

He said alert troops noticed the movement of a group of heavily- armed militants near the LoC on the Indian side early this morning.

Col Mathur said the intruders had crossed the LoC from Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK) and sneaked into the Indian side on the intervening night of October 17-18.

As they reached a particular place in the Machil sector of Kupwara district, militants were confronted by troops, he added.

On being asked to surrender, the spokesman said the infiltrators opened fire on them resulting in a fierce encounter.

During the gun-battle, which raged for several hours, four infiltrators were killed, he added.

Col Mathur said a large cache of arms and ammunition was also seized from the encounter site.

While the gunfight has stopped, the search and mopping up operations was still on when reports last came in, he added.

The spokesman said the identification of the slain militants was being ascertained.

UNI AG VD VV2011