Samba, J&K, May 11:: Militants struck in a big way on Sunday killing four persons, including a lensman of a leading state daily, and took two women hostage while engaging in a fierce encounter with security forces in Samba region in which one ultra was gunned down.

A group of heavily armed militants, who are believed to have infiltrated across the border after firing at a BSF post in Samba on Friday, struck at the house of a local political leader Hoshiyar Singh, killing him and his wife Sheshi Balla in Kali Mandi forest belt around 0750 hours, official sources said.

As Army and BSF units rushed to the spot, a fierce encounter ensued in which Ashok Sodhi, a senior photojournalist with local English newspaper Daily Excelsior, who was covering the incident, was killed when a bullet fired by militants pierced his head, they said.

A jawan identified as Atul died and four persons, including a major of the Territorial Army were injured in the encounter. One of the militants was also killed in the gunbattle.

The militants, believed to be three to four in number, escaped from the spot and entered a house in a nearby village taking a woman and her duaghter as hostage.

Personnel belonging to the six Garhwal Rifles of the Army, BSF and police cordoned off the village and started a house-to-house search, the official said, adding that the operation was continuing.

"This is major encounter. Five persons including a militant have been killed. The operations is on", Inspector General of Police, Jammu Range, K Rajendra said.