Jammu: Security forces on Monday arrested two militants after a brief shootout at a 'naka' and recovered stolen arms and ammunition from their possession in Thanamandi tehsil of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.

"During wee hours, a joint naka of Rajouri Police, 72 Bn CRPF and Army laid on Rajouri - DKG road at Thanamandi Chowk was conducting random frisking of vehicles when the two motorcycle-borne terrorists reached there and were signalled to stop," Yugal Manhas, SSP Rajouri here said.

He said that as it was still dark, taking advantage of the situation, the duo sped up their motorcycle and later, dropped it at some distance from 'naka' and fired on the chasing Naka personnel.

However, the jawans of Police, Army and CRPF taking due caution, swiftly overpowered and apprehended both of them, said the SSP.

He said that the prompt and swift action of jawans saved the 'naka' personnel as the duo could have taken position behind any object leading to a difficult situation.

"Soon after, both the militants were overpowered and information was shared with officers, senior officers of police and the Army, who along with reinforcement, reached the spot and arrested both the terrorists, while the whole area was cordoned and searches were launched," said Mr Manhas.

He identified the arrested persons as Mukhtar Ahmed (22) , resident of New Colony, Safanagri (Zainapura) Shopian and Aijaz Ahmed Paaray (22), resident of Keshva, Chitragama, Shopian, Kashmir.

"Both were involved in militancy related cases of Police Station Zainapura, District Shopian," he said adding that "an INSAS rifle with three magazines and 49 live cartridges along with two empty fired cartridges were recovered from their possession."

Police personnel deployed at police post Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah (BGSB) Shrine Shahdara Sharif informed officers that a weapon (INSAS) with magazines has been stolen by unidentified men from police barrack in wee hours.

Mr Manhas said that during initial interrogation, the arrested militants also admitted to stealing the weapon and magazines from police barrack by taking away the box of a police official and breaking the lock.

The duo was to join HM outfit in Shopian instantly and were in constant touch with HM Commander Zeenat-ul-Islam operating in South Kashmir, he asserted.

However, interrogation is going on and a case has been registered.