Indian army kills 2 militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Indian army on Wednesday said it has foiled an infiltration bid and killed two militants during a gunfight along the Line of Control ( LoC) in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir. The gunfight, according to Indian army, broke out early Wednesday in Keran of frontier Kupwara District, around 125 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir. "Our vigilant troops early today noticed a suspicious movement of some people in Keran sector close to LoC. On being challenged, the men fired on the army positions, making it clear they were infiltrators trying to enter deep in our territory," said Naresh Vig, Indian army spokesman. "The troopers retaliated resulting in the killing of two militants," said Vig. According to Vig, search operation was underway in the sector and Indian army has not suffered any damage in the gunfight. Indian Defense officials said militants are trying to make infiltration attempts to engage Indian troops in the ongoing guerrilla war in Indian-controlled Kashmir. However, no independent confirmation of the gunfight could be made. 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. Earlier this month, Indian army said it has killed 14 militants close to LoC in Kupwara during a sequel of gunfights. Following the killings, a Pakistani newspaper, The Express Tribune, reported Indian troopers had entered into the Pakistani- controlled part near Neelam Valley and abducted four residents who were collecting herbs. The report put a question mark on the veracity of Indian claims. Over the past week, the situation along LoC has been tense, with Indian and Pakistani troopers regularly firing on each other' s positions. Last week, five Indian troops were killed and another wounded in a deadly ambush on LoC in Poonch. India accused Pakistani troops of entering into their territory and carrying out the attack, a charge Pakistan denies. The skirmishes and killings have heightened tension between New Delhi and Islamabad and have overshadowed the resumption of Indo- Pak dialogue process.