Indian troops kill 3 militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

Indian military Friday said it has foiled an infiltration bid by killing three militants in a gunfight on Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir.

The gunfight, according to military, broke out Thursday in Nowgam sector of frontier Kupwara district, about 125 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"In a gunfight that broke out yesterday in Nowgam sector three militants have been killed," Indian military spokesman, Col N N Joshi told Xinhua. "The gunfight has stopped; however, the search operation is still underway."

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

The identity of slain militants was not known immediately.

"We are on it and the identity details will be declared by police," Joshi said.

According to Joshi, troops guarding the LoC intercepted the group who were trying to sneak inside Indian-controlled Kashmir.

However, no independent confirmation could be made about the gunfight, owing to remoteness of the area.

Meanwhile, a fresh gunfight has erupted between militants and troops on Friday morning near Tangmarg in Baramulla district.

"The details will be shared after the culmination of the gunfight," 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