SRINAGAR, Feb 6: Indian troops on Wednesday claimed they had shot dead five members of one of two groups blamed for the December attack on the Indian parliament.

An army spokesman said the five belonged to the Jaish-i-Mohammed.

“The army had laid an ambush for a group of militants (Mujahideen) on specific information this (Wednesday) morning,” the spokesman said by telephone from Kupwara, near the Line of Control.

“As the militants entered the ambush range they were asked to surrender, but instead they opened fire,” claiming that five Jaish members — whom he identified as Pakistan nationals — were killed in the ensuing encounter.

“One of them is believed to be a senior commander of the group,” the spokesman said.—AFP