Indian military kills 4 militants, captures 1 in Kashmir gunfight

Indian military on Thursday claimed to have killed four militants in a fierce gunfight and captured their associate alive.

The gunfight, according to Indian military, broke out at Kazinag Dhar Ridge in Rafiabad of Baramulla district, about 78 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir.

"Based on intelligence inputs about presence of militants in the forest area of Rafiabad, at Kazinag Dhar Ridge, a search operation was launched by army on Aug. 24, which forced the militants to move towards the higher reaches of the ridge," a military spokesman said.

"First contact with militants was established on Wednesday morning, resulting in elimination of one of them. In the operation which lasted until today afternoon, three more militants were eliminated, while one was captured alive."

Indian military, which used special forces and helicopters during the operation to take on militants in the forest area, has not suffered any damage in the gunfight, according to the spokesman.

The militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit.

"The preliminary interrogation reveals that the captured militant is 22- year-old LeT operative and belongs to Pakistan," the spokesman said. "The captured militant is now being taken for joint interrogation."

Military claims it has recovered four assault rifles and some ammunition from the gunfight site.

Earlier this month Indian police captured a militant and killed his associate responsible for attack on a convoy of India's Border Security Force (BSF)that killed two Indian border guards and wounded 13 others.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of sending armed militants to Indian-controlled Kashmir. However, Islamabad says it only provides moral and political support to Kashmiris.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

Source: XINHUA