1st LD Writethru: 3 militants killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

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

According to Indian army officials, the militants were trying to storm an army camp at Langate-Handwara in frontier Kupwara district, about 75 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today at around 5:00 a.m. local time (2330 GMT Wednesday) three militants tried to storm an army camp at Langate in Handwara. However, our alert personnel deployed there immediately retaliated to repulse their attempt and killed them just outside the camp," Indian military spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia told Xinhua. "The militants were wearing army uniforms."

The identity of slain militants was being ascertained. However, officials said prima-facie they appear to be foreigners.

Kalia said Indian army have not suffered any damage in the stand-off and search operation was underway in the area.

"The firing has stopped but search operation is going on in the area," Kalia said. "We have recovered three assault rifles and some ammunition from the slain militants."

On Monday, a border guard belonging to India's Border Security Force (BSF) was killed and another wounded in a similar attack on army camp in neighboring Baramulla town. However, militants escaped following the attack.

Militant groups are engaged in a guerrilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently.

Last month, four militants entered an army base in frontier Uri, killing 19 troopers and wounding over 20 others. The four attackers were also killed.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated because of an ongoing civilian protests in Indian-controlled Kashmir that saw around 90 civilians dead and over 12,000 others injured. However the situation worsened between New Delhi and Islamabad following Uri attack and subsequent claims of Indian military that it carried out "surgical strikes" inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir inflicting significant casualties on infiltrators and their supporters.

Pakistan, however, rejected Indian claims about "surgical strikes."

Since then, the situation on the Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir has worsened with troops from both countries indulging in ceasefire violations and targeting each others positions.

New Delhi blames Islamabad for fanning Kashmir protests and accuses it of sending armed militants into Indian-controlled Kashmir, an accusation Islamabad strongly rejects. However, Islamabad says it only provides moral and political support to Kashmiris.

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