SRINAGAR, Nov. 20, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – Four militants and a para army
commando were killed and two troopers wounded Tuesday in a fierce gunfight
between them in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The gunfight broke out early morning at village Nadigam of Shopian
district, about 54 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-
controlled Kashmir.
“Government forces early this morning launched a cordon and search
operation in Nadigam village on credible inputs about the presence of
militants. As the search operation was going on, hiding militants fired upon
the search party, thereby triggering a gunfight,” a senior police official
posted in Shopian told Xinhua.
“In the ensuing gunfight four militants were killed while as a para army
commando was killed and two troopers wounded fighting these militants.”
The wounded troopers, according to reports, were immediately sent to
hospital.
The identity of slain militants was being ascertained.
“The search operation is still underway and we are trying to ascertain the
identity of slain militants,” the police official said.
Locals said the house from where militants were firing on positions of army
and police have been damaged and columns of smoke were seen rising from its
structure.
Reports said clashes have broke out between youth and government forces in
the village following the killing of militants, which were going on until
last reports poured in.
Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in Shopian and adjacent
Pulwama district, fearing it would escalate the street protests.
On Sunday also two militants were killed in Shopian in a similar gunfight.
A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed
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.