Indian army kill 3 militants in Indian controlled Kashmir

Indian army Friday said they have foiled an infiltration bid and killed three militants during a gunfight along the Line of Control (LoC) in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir. The gunfight, according to the army, broke out early Friday in Gujjar-Dur in Keran sector of frontier Kupwara district, around 125 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir. "Our vigilant troops early today noticed some suspicious human movement in Gujjar-Dur area close to LoC," said Col. Naresh Vig, Indian army spokesman. "Out troopers challenged, the men fired on the army positions making it clear they were infiltrators trying to enter deep in our territory. In the ensuing gunfight three militants were killed." According to Vig, search operation was underway in the sector and Indian army has not suffered any damage in the gunfight. Indian army also claimed recovery of assault rifles and ammunition from the gunfight site. However, no independent confirmation of the gunfight could be made. The Gujjar-Dur area is adjacent to the location in the Keran sector where Indian army have been battling hard with a group of militants since Sept. 24. According to newspaper reports, the army have pressed in choppers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to take on the infiltrators. Indian defense officials said militants were trying to make infiltration attempts to engage Indian troops in the ongoing guerrilla war in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The LoC is a de facto border dividing Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani controlled parts. 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. Previously media reports said Pakistani troops have occupied Shala Bhata village near LoC in Kupwara. However, the reports were rejected by Indian army who said the area was under their control but a huge group of infiltrators have sneaked inside and fighting them. The General officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh on Wednesday said 12 infiltrators were killed during the standoff. A separatist movement challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Militant groups are engaged in a guerrilla war with Indian troops across the restive region.