Kashmir: 2 militants, ‘aide’ killed in gunfight

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

Two militants and their "associate" were killed in a gunfight with the government forces in the Indian-administered Kashmir on Saturday morning, the police said.

The gunfight, the second in south Kashmir since Friday evening, erupted between the government forces and the militants when people in the region were preparing for "Suhoor" -- an early meal consumed by Muslims before fasting.

The encounter began when joint forces were carrying a cordon and search operation in the Goripora area of Awantipora, Pulwama district, after an input about the militant presence.

“As forces zeroed on the suspected area, hiding militants fired upon security forces, and they were then retaliated, triggering an encounter," a police official said.

Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir Vijay Kumar said: "Two unidentified terrorists and one hardcore associate of terrorists was killed, and the search is still going on."

Earlier on Friday evening, two unidentified militants in the region were killed while they were trying to flee along with a policeman they had abducted, minutes earlier from his home in the Kulgam district.

The abducted policeman was rescued while another one was injured during the exchange of fire.

So far this year, at least 50 militants and 17 government forces have been killed in the Muslim-majority region in over 28 gunfights with the Indian forces.

Earlier this month, 10 militants and six Indian soldiers were killed in four separate incidents within 10 days.

Disputed region

Kashmir is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- two of them over Kashmir.

Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against the Indian rule for independence, or unification with the neighboring Pakistan.

According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.