Indian policeman killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

An Indian policeman was killed in a gunfight with militants in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday , police said.

The gunfight broke out at Zaloora area of Sopore in Baramulla district, about 58 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A policeman was killed in a gunfight with militants in Yemberzal Wadi of Zaloora area of Sopore in the wee hours today," a senior police official said. " The policeman was critically wounded and later succumbed on way to hospital."

Police officials said the area was cordoned off following intelligence inputs regarding the presence of militants.

"As the cordon was being tightened, militants holed up in the area fired upon us, which was retaliated, resulting into a gunfight," the official said.

Reports said the militants managed to break cordon and escaped from the area.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

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