Asia-Pacific

Indian army kills 2 in gunfight in India-controlled Kashmir

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-26 21:18

SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir: Two militants owing allegiance to the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant outfit were killed Thursday in a gunfight with Indian army and police in India-controlled Kashmir, defense officials said.

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The gunfight broke out in Karan Didhar forest area of Doda, around 183 km northeast of Jammu, the winter capital of India- controlled Kashmir.

"The encounter broke out late Wednesday night after a joint party of Indian army and police launched a search operation to nab two militants present in the area. According to reports they were hiding there for quite some time. No sooner the army cordoned the area, it came under fire from the militants, which was retaliated back. In the ensuing gunfight both militants got killed," said Lt. Col. Biplab Nath, defense spokesman based in Jammu.

The search operation in the area continued until late Thursday afternoon.

The two militants have been identified as locals. Defense officials also claimed recovery of two assault rifles from the possession of slain militants.

HM is the indigenous militant outfit of Kashmir active in the region since 1990.