Indian troops kill militant in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

A militant was killed Wednesday in a gunfight with contingents of Indian troops and police in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight broke out at Sofi Hamam locality in Chankhan area of volatile Sopore town, about 52 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A militant was killed in a gunfight at Sofi Hamam -- Chankhan area of Sopore town during a joint operation launched by army and police," an Indian military spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the contingents cordoned off the locality following specific intelligence inputs suggesting presence of militant in the locality.

Reports said the stand-off continued in the locality for several hours.

"The militant hiding in the area opened heavy volume of fire, which was retaliated by our side and resulted into his killing," the spokesman said.

Army claims the slain militant was a foreigner affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

LeT outfit is accused of carrying out a terror attack on India' s financial capital Mumbai in 2008. The attack claimed 166 lives.

An assault rifle and some ammunition was recovered from the gunfight side, official from military and police said.

A guerrilla war has been going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989. Gunfight between militants and Indian troopers takes place intermittently in the restive region. Endi