Troops kill 2 militants in ongoing gunfight in Indian-controlled Kashmir

At least two militants were killed Friday in an ongoing gunfight with Indian troops in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The gunfight broke out at village Pethwadar of Handwara in frontier Kupwara district, about 90 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Two militants have been killed today at Bhat Mohalla in Handwara and operation is still going on," Indian army spokesperson, Col N N Joshi told Xinhua.

Reports said militants fired upon the troops while they were approaching towards them, triggering a gunfight.

"We cordoned off the area and launched searches on specific intelligence inputs about presence of militants in the village," Joshi said. "No sooner we reached near the suspected area, we were fired upon."

The troops or police have not suffered any damage in the gunfight, officials said.

Police and army officials suspected presence of more militants in the area.

According to officials, the identity of slain militants was being ascertained.

A guerilla war is 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