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Militant killed, 4 troopers wounded in gunfight in Indian-controlled Kashmir

07 July 2012 02:29 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A militant was killed, while three India army troopers and a policeman were wounded Friday in a fierce gunfight in Indian- controlled Kashmir, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The gunfight broke out early Friday at village Boban close to Rajwar forests of Handwara in frontier Kupwara district, around 100 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir.

Officials said the contingents of Indian army and police cordoned off the village Thursday evening on specific intelligence inputs to take on militants there.

"A militant was killed in gunfight today in Boban village of Handwara," said Lt. Col J. S. Brar, an Indian Army spokesman in Srinagar. "In the stand-off three troopers and a policeman were wounded."

The wounded troopers and policeman were immediately sent to hospital. Officials said the policeman with critical wounds was airlifted to army hospital in Srinagar and his condition is said to be stable.

Meanwhile, police is trying to determine the identity of slain militant.

Reports said some militants have managed to escape during the exchange of heavy gunfire between two sides. Two residential houses were also damaged after they caught fire during the skirmish.

Officials claim recovery of an assault rifle and some ammunition from the scene.

Gunfights between militants and Indian army troopers in Indian- controlled Kashmir have occurred time and again. Police and Defense officials said that very often operations triggering gunfights are carried out on prior information about presence of militants in specific areas.

On Thursday three militants were killed in a similar gunfight with Indian army in Mankal forests of Baramulla district, around 110 km northwest of Srinagar city.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and the Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.