Indian troops kill 2 militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Indian troops Friday killed two militants in a fierce gunfight in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The gunfight broke out at Bomai village of Sopore area, around 56 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today two militants were killed in a firefight at Bomai village near Sopore town," Col. N N Joshi told Xinhua. "The gunfight was triggered after joint contingents of Indian army and police cordoned off the area following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants."

Indian army or police have not suffered any casualty in the standoff, police said.

While the gunfight was going on, clashes broke out in the village. Local youth threw stones and brickbats at the government forces, who retaliated by firing tear smoke shells and warning shots.

Joshi said the identity of slain militants was being ascertained. However, reports said the two have been identified as local cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen, the region's indigenous militant outfit.

Locals said the house from where militants were firing on police and army positions has been severely damaged.

On Thursday, four militants and an Indian military trooper were killed in a gunfight in Tangdhar area of the frontier Kupwara district. Indian military said the militants were gunned down while trying to infiltrate into Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Militant groups are engaged in a guerrilla 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