Troops kill 2 militants in separate gunfights in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Two militants were killed in separate gunfights with Indian troops in restive Indian controlled Kashmir, police said Wednesday.

A militant yet to be identified was killed in the ongoing gunfight at village Dardpora- Lolab in frontier Kupwara district, about 110 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Another militant belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant outfit was killed Tuesday evening in a gunfight at Gudoora village of Pulwama district, about 38 km south of Srinagar.

"Last evening a gunfight broke out at village Gudoora after joint contingents of military and police cordoned off the village on specific intelligence information about presence of militants in a locality," a police official told Xinhua. "No sooner the contingents encircled the suspected house, the militants fired upon them, triggering a gunfight which culminated with the killing of a holed up militant."

The slain militant was identified as Bilal Ahmad Bhat, a local cadre of HM.

Reports said while the gunfight was ongoing in the locality, dozens of young residents threw stones and brickbats on the government forces to facilitate escape of militants. Police fired warning shots and tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters and end clashes.

Unconfirmed reports said two other militants managed to break off the cordon and escaped during initial exchange of fire.

The house from where the militant was targeting the military and police positions was damaged in the standoff.

Locals said the house was blown using improvised explosive devices.

Hundreds of people on Wednesday morning attended the funeral prayers of Bhat. People including women and children gathered to mourn his killing. The mourners shouted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans as militant's body mounted on stretcher was taken for burial.

The Pulwama town and adjacent areas observed a complete shutdown to protest the killing.

Meanwhile, in Kupwara four militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) are believed to have been trapped in forest area of Dardpora Lolab village, reports said.

A senior police officer Aijaz Ahmad told media one militant was killed so far.

"The encounter began on Tuesday after forces launched an operation in the forest area," Ahmad said. "The standoff is going on."

Authorities have rushed in reinforcements to take on militants present in the area.

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

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian- controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfights between the two sides takes 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