2 killed, 1 wounded in in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

APD NEWS

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Two militants were killed and a paramilitary trooper of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was wounded in an overnight gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Friday.

The gunfight erupted Thursday late afternoon at Khonmoh village in the outskirts of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Two militants were killed in the gunfight that went on until late last night at Khonmoh," a police official posted in Srinagar said. "A CRPF paramilitary trooper was also wounded while fighting these militants."

According to police, the militants Thursday afternoon attacked policemen guarding a local pro-India politician. The policemen repulsed the attack during which one of them was wounded.

However, following the attack contingents of police, paramilitary and army cordoned off the area. Reports said militants while trying to escape from the area were holed up inside a residential locality.

"The exchange of fire started after militants refused the offer of government forces to lay down arms," the official said. "Gunfight continued until late."

Reports said several residential houses were damaged in the stand-off .

The slain militants were identified as local cadres of a militant outfit.

A guerilla 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.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)