1st LD Writethru: Indian troops kill 5 militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

Five militants were killed and two Indian troopers wounded in a fierce gunfight Saturday in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The gunfight between militants and troops broke out at village Drugmulla of frontier Kupwara district, about 83 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Five militants were gunned down during a gunfight in Drugmulla village today," Indian military spokesman Col N N Joshi told Xinhua.

"The gunfight broke out after joint contingents of police and army cordoned off the area and zeroed on a built up (residential) area, where the militants were present."

According to Joshi, two troopers wounded in the standoff were hospitalized and their condition was stated to be stable.

According to police officials, the operation was carried out following specific intelligence inputs suggesting presence of militants in the village.

Locals said the exchange of gunfight lasted for several hours. Reports said the house from where militants were firing on army and police positions has been completely damaged by troops.

Joshi claimed five assault rifles were seized from the gunfight site.

The identity of the slain militants and their group affiliation was being ascertained.

Following the news of militant killings, locals took to roads to stage protests, reports 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