2nd LD Writethru: 3 militants, civilian killed in attack on military camp in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Three militants and a civilian were killed, while an Indian trooper was wounded Wednesday in an attack on an Indian military camp in Indian-controlled Kashmir near Line of Control (LoC), officials said.

The attack was carried out in the morning at Tangdhar area of frontier Kupwara district, about 155 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Three militants who attacked the camp were killed by the army and a civilian present inside the camp also lost his life," Col N N Joshi, Indian military spokesman told Xinhua. "On our side, a trooper was wounded fighting these militants and he has been moved to hospital."

According to Joshi a search operation in the area was going on.

India's official broadcaster -- All India Radio (AIR) identified the wounded trooper as military's junior commissioned officer.

Initial reports said the slain civilian was an employee inside the camp. However, Joshi said they were trying to ascertain the identity of civilian.

Officials said militants at around 6:15 a.m. (local time) fired grenades using under barrel grenade launchers (UBGL) and resorted to heavy gunfire in a bid to storm the military camp. The grenades set an oil depot, a barrack adjacent to it and several vehicles parked there on fire.

The standoff between two sides lasted for around seven hours, during which according to police sound of blasts and gunfire was heard from a distance.

A senior police official in Kupwara Ajaz Ahmad told media that militants managed to enter the camp. However, military officials said they repulsed militants after which they fired from a distance.

Meanwhile, militant outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A spokesperson from the outfit told Srinagar-based newsgathering agency that three militants of the outfit have "taken positions in the camp" and have been targeting Indian troopers.

Wednesday's attack comes against the backdrop of a prolonged gunfight and search operation in Manigah forests of the district, which so far has left a military officer dead and a few others wounded. A militant was also killed in the standoff.

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

A guerilla war has been going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfights 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