Indian Army kills 4 militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir

The Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Sunday by gunning down four militants after a fierce encounter, a defense official said.

"Soldiers posted along the Line of Control, the military control line between India and Pakistan, spotted intruders in Nowgam sector of Kashmir's Kupwara district in the wee hours. When challenged, the four militants opened fire, forcing the security forces to retaliate," he said.

The four militants were killed in the ensuing encounter and four assault rifles recovered from their possession, the official said.

In a separate incident, a policeman was killed and two persons sustained injuries in a gunfight between the security forces and militants in Poonch district, local TV channels reported. Reports said the clash is still on and security forces are also combing nearby areas.

The two gunfights came amid unrest in Kashmir, where more than 75 people have been killed in violence since the killing of 22-year-old militant commander Burhan Wani by Indian security forces two months ago.

Pakistan has eulogized Wani, while India accuses Islamabad of fanning violence in Kashmir over which the two arch-rivals have fought at least three major wars in the past 65 years.