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

A member of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit was killed and two policemen were wounded in a gunfight in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Tuesday. The gunfight broke out Monday night after militants targeted a police party at village Niloora of Pulwama district, around 45 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Militants tried to target a police party at village Niloora here Monday night, thereby triggering a gun battle," said a senior police official posted in Pulwama. "During the standoff a militant was killed and two policemen suffered wounds." The policemen were immediately taken to hospital and were stated to be stable, officials said. Following the gunfight the police cordoned off the area and conducted searches.Reports said other militants managed to escape. The slain militant has been identified as Ashiq Lone, a local cadre of the LeT. Last week two militants including a divisional commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant outfit were killed at village Achagoza of Pulwama. Gunfight between militants and Indian army soldiers in Indian- controlled Kashmir takes place intermittently. A guerrilla war has been going on between militants and the stationed Indian troops in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.