12 Indian militants killed in gunfight on LoC in Kashmir

The Indian army Thursday claimed foiling a major infiltration bid on line-of-control (LoC) in Kashmir and said it has killed 12 militants in a fierce gunfight. According to Indian army, the gunfight broke out in Keran sector of frontier Kupwara district, around 135 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Our alert troops on Tuesday witnessed some suspicious movement in Keran sector suggesting a major infiltration plan. To foil that we launched the operation immediately and so far 10-12 militants have been killed," said Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh, the General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps addressing a press conference at Badamibagh cantonment. "Our troops posted in forward posts have seen their bodies." Newspaper reports said India army had used choppers to track down the movement of militants in the area. Defense officials believe some 30 militants have infiltrated in the area. The search operations in the area are underway, Singh said. However, no independent confirmation could be made about the gunfight in the remote sector. LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. Meanwhile 12 people including Indian army troopers and policemen were killed Thursday morning after militants disguised as Indian army troopers first attacked a police station and later on stormed an Indian army base in Jammu province of the restive region. Militants seeking the end of New Delhi's rule have engaged in a guerrilla war with Indian troops 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 British, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.