Foiling five major infiltration bids along the Line of Control, the Indian Army has shot dead 17 militants in Jammu and Kashmir since Friday night, a defence spokesman said.

Four militants each were shot dead in Poonch, Baramulla and Lolab, three in Kupwara and two in Udhampur, he said.

A large number of arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

The militants, all Pakistani nationals, belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist groups, he said.

In Poonch, the spokesman said, a group of militants had sneaked into Mendhar via Balnoi last night. They were challenged by an army patrol and in the ensuing exchange of fire four of them were killed.

Two infiltrators were shot dead in Shajru area of Mahore in Udhampur district.
 
Four militants were killed in Gurez in Baramulla, the spokesman said, adding that in the past one week 24 terrorists have been shot dead by the army in the area.
 
The spokesman said Pika machine guns, AK assault rifles and grenades were among the arms and ammunition recovered from the dead militants.