2 militants killed, 2 policemen wounded in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

Two militants were killed and two police officers including a senior officer wounded Saturday in a gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight broke out at Amargarh locality of Sopore town in Baramulla district, about 50 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Police spokesman said the militants were planning to carry out an attack in the town.

"Today we killed two militants in a brief gunfight here," a police officer posted in Sopore said. "While fighting the militants a senior police officer and a junior-level officer were wounded."

The gunfight according to police broke out after a joint contingent of police and army on a specific intelligence information tried to intercept a vehicle carrying militants.

The wounded police officers were immediately removed to hospital.

Police claimed recovery of two assault rifles and some ammunition from the spot.

"Two AK series rifles, one pistol, four hand grenades and other arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site," a police spokesman said. "With the elimination of these militants a major militant attack was averted."

The slain militants were identified as local cadres of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit.

A guerrilla 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.

source: Xinhua