Ist Ld Writethru: Firing on protesters kills civilian in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A civilian was killed Monday after government forces fired on protesters who tried to break off cordon during a gunfight in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The gunfight between militants and government forces broke out late Sunday evening at village Redwaniof Kulgam district, about 58 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Reports said that soon after Indian army and police laid down cordon in the village, locals came out in protest and clashed with them by throwing stones in a bid to end the cordon.

During the overnight clashes, a civilian, Asif Ahmad, was hit by a bullet; he succumbed in hospital.

"We removed him to the hospital but he succumbed there," Muneeb Ahmad, a local, told Xinhua over telephone.

The civilian killing has triggered further protests in the area.

Following the clashes the government forces suspended the operation during night hours, officials said.

Authorities early Monday rushed in reinforcements to the area to take on militants holed up in the village and thwart civilian protests.

The gunfight between both sides was going on, a police official said.

"There is heavy exchange of fire going on between militants and army in the area," a police official said. "A civilian too has been killed in the village."

Reports said two militants are believed to be trapped in the area.

A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule has been going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endi