1st LD: 4 militants, 2 troopers killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

At least four militants and two Indian military troopers were killed, while two other troopers wounded on Saturday in a fierce gunfight in the restive Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The gunfight broke out Friday at Chowkibal in frontier district of Kupwara, close to the Line of Control (LoC), about 125 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"As per latest update from the gunfight site, four militants have been killed," Indian military spokesman, Col. N N Joshi said. "On our side two soldiers were martyred and two others are wounded."

Officials said the two wounded troopers were removed to hospital and were undergoing treatment.

"The operation is going on in the area and searches are under way," Joshi said.

Officials said troops cordoned off the area following intelligence inputs about presence of militants.

The identity of slain militants and their group affiliation was not immediately known. Police officials said they were yet to start the identification process.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

Last week three militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit were killed in 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