1st LD Writethru: 5 militants, 5 civilians killed in gunfight, clashes in Indian-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Five militants and five civilians were killed Sunday in a fierce gunfight and subsequent clashes in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight broke out in village Badigam of Shopian, 62 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today in a gunfight with militants in Badigam, five militants have been killed," a senior police official posted in the area told Xinhua.

"We tried to persuade them (militants) to lay down arms and surrender but they rejected the offer and fired on our positions, evoking a similar response."

Media reported that the slain militants were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, the region's indigenous militant outfit and included commander Saddam Paddar, his aide and newly recruited Mohammad Rafi Bhat, an assistant professor of the sociology department of Kashmir University.

Police officials said the gunfight in the area began after joint contingents of army, paramilitary and police cordoned off the area on intelligence information on the presence of militants.

As the gunfight was going on, locals took to the roads shouting slogans and clashed with the government forces. The locals threw stones on their contingents, who responded by firing tear gas and bullets.

Officials said five people were killed and many others wounded in the clashes. Enditem