2 militants, paramilitary trooper killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

Two militants and a paramilitary trooper belonging to India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed Tuesday in a fierce gunfight between them in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight broke out at village Bundzoo of Pulwama district, about 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"In a gunfight that broke out here at Bundzoo area today morning, two militants were killed. While fighting militants, a CRPF man also was hit by bullets of militants. Though he was immediately removed to a hospital, he succumbed there," a senior police official posted in Pulwama said.

According to police officials, the operation was launched in the village by government forces early Tuesday on specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants.

Gunfights between militants and government forces take place intermittently in the region. Officials said since the beginning of this year, over 100 militants were killed in gunfights across the region.

Militant groups opposing New Delhi's rule are engaged in a guerilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989.

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.