2 Indian troopers wounded in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

Two troopers belonging to Indian army were wounded Thursday in fighting with militants in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight broke out at Shahgund in Hajin of Bandipora district, about 38 km north of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Two army men were wounded in a brief gunfight today morning at Hajin," a police official posted in Bandipora said. "The army and police personnel jointly launched cordon and search operation on specific inputs about presence of militants in the locality. However, a gunfight was triggered after the joint party came under fire."

Reports said three militants present in the area managed to break the cordon and escape from the village.

The wounded troopers were immediately evacuated to army's base hospital in Srinagar, police said.

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 in 1945, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endit