Indian troops kill 3 militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

Three militants were gunned down in a fierce gunfight with Indian troops Thursday in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The gunfight between militants and troops broke out in morning at Putshai village of Lolab forests in frontier district of Kupwara near Line of Control (LoC), about 125 mm northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"In a gunfight at Lolab today, three militants have been killed so far," Indian military spokesman, Col N N Joshi told Xinhua. "The operation in the area is going on."

Indian police and troopers according to officials have not suffered any damage in the stand-off.

The identity of slain militants was being ascertained, police said.

According to police officials, joint contingents of military and police cordoned off the area following intelligence inputs suggesting presence of militants.

"The area has been cordoned off and intermittent firing is ongoing," Joshi said.

Militant groups are engaged in guerilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989.

Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently.

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