NEW DELHI, January 25, SPA -- Indian police shot dead two suspected militants from Pakistan in a pre-dawn encounter near NewDelhi on Sunday, an Indian news agency reported, quoting asenior police official. The two men engaged in a gun battle with the anti-terrorsquad in the suburb of Noida, which borders the Indiancapital, the Press Trust of India news agency reported,citing senior police official Brij Lal in Uttar Pradeshstate, where Noida is located. «One of the terrorists, while being taken to hospital,identified himself as Farooq, a resident of Okara inPakistan,» Lal said according to PTI. His companion wasidentified as Abu Ismail from Rawalakot, also in Pakistan. Noida's senior superintendent of police, Naveen Arora, wasnot immediately available to confirm the incident. Hisoffice said he was inspecting security arrangements aheadof India's Republic Day celebrations on Monday. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammed Sadiq,declined to comment, saying he had not seen the report. Lal told PTI that the two men died on their way to ahospital, and that an Indian police officer was alsoinjured in the incident. Two AK-47 assault rifles, several rounds of ammunition,five hand grenades and a Pakistani passport and identitycards were recovered from the two men, he said. Thedocuments and identities of the two men are being verifiedby the police, he added.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/629292