3 Militants Killed In Indian-Controlled Kashmir

Indian troops Tuesday killed three militants during a gunfight in Indian- controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The gunfight broke out at village Hanjan Rajpora of Pulwama district, about 45 km south of Srinagar city, summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"All the three holed up militants were killed during a gunfight today," Brigadier Pramood Kumar told media at the conclusion of the operation at Pulwama.
"The bodies have been handed over to police for legal formalities."
Kumar said troops and police tried to persuade the besieged militants to lay down arms but they refused the offer.
Indian troops however have not suffered any damage in the stand- off.
Police said contingents of the Indian army and police rushed to the area Monday evening, following intelligence inputs about presence of militants in a residential house.
Reports pouring in from the area said the house where from militants were firing on army and police positions was completely damaged during the exchange of fire and mortars.
According to police, the slain militants were identified as local carders of Jaish-e-Mohammed militant outfit.
Last month, six militants and four troopers were killed in series of gunfights in frontier Kupwara district.
Militants challenging New Delhi's rule in the restive region are fighting guerrilla war since 1989 with stationed Indian troops.
The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.
The year of 2013 saw 38 percent increase in violence compared to 2012. The violence claimed 204 lives in restive Indian- controlled Kashmir.
Of the 204 killed, 48 were civilians, 73 suspected militants, one unidentified and 82 Indian troopers, report complied by a rights group said. (Cihan/Xinhua)