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Indian military intensifies operation to take on militants near Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, November 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indian military and police Thursday intensified its operation against militants near Line of Control (LoC) in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The operation is under way in Manigah forest area of frontier Kupwara district, about 135 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Reports said the military has pressed helicopters, para- commandos and sniffer dogs into service in the forest area to locate militants.

Indian military spokesman said three militants were believed to be present in the area.

The search operation has been intensified after militants killed an Indian military officer and wounded four troopers and a policeman in the area on Tuesday.

"All the escape routes in the forest area have been sealed, so as to prevent the militants from fleeing away," a police official said. "We have dispatched army and police reinforcements to the area in full strength."

Militants were believed to have infiltrated near LoC in Indian-controlled Kashmir on September 31. Officials said the gun battle in the area started last week after contingents of Indian military and police launched a search operation on intelligence inputs suggesting presence of militants.

"Following the killing of Colonel Santosh Mahadik on Tuesday, no exchange of fire was reported," the official said. "It is believed militants are hiding deep inside the forest."

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.

A local newspaper Daily Excelsior Thursday reported the military has asked the village heads in the area to make announcements urging people to stay indoors and avoid venturing out.

According to the newspaper, the militant group had managed to give slip to the military and police four times since last week in the area.

A guerrilla war has been going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfire between the two sides take place intermittently across the region.

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. Endit