3 militants killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, KASHMIR: Three militants of Hizbul Mujhadeen (HM), including a top commander, were killed Tuesday in an ongoing gun battle with the army and police in Indian-controlled Kashmir, official sources said.

A joint team of police and Indian army was deployed early morning after receiving information about the presence of militants in Manjiosh forests of Nachlana-Banihal of Ramban district. Militants opened fire triggering a fierce gun battle in which three militants from the HM were killed, the Indian Times reported.

"The area has been cordoned off and the operation was in progress as one of the militants was still trapped in encounter," sources said.

Defence Spokesperson Jammu Lt Col Biplabh said two of the bodies were identified as district commander Qari Zuber and his associate Nasir Ahmed Naik. The identity of the third militant had not been established yet, the newspaper reported.

The HM is the leading indigenous militant group in the region. A guerrilla war has been going on between militants and the Indian troops stationed in Muslim-majority Kashmir, which is divided into parts administered by India and Pakistan. The government says more than 45,000 people:including civilians, militants and troops: have died in the region over the past two decades.

(BNO NEWS )