Four militants killed in Kashmir gunfight

[News_Editor]

Four militants killed in Kashmir gunfight

2011-07-15 23:20:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- Four suspected militants were killed on Friday during a gunfight with security forces in India-administered Kashmir, police sources told local media.

Three top commanders were among the four Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants killed in the gunfight that took place in Maidanpora village of Kupwara district in north Kashmir. According to the Kashmir Dispatch, a soldier also died in the gunfight and three others were wounded.

"A joint team of Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) cordoned off the entire area and launched the search. Militants opened fire on the forces, which was retaliated, resulting in the gun-battle," a senior police official said.

The Hindustan Times reported that the gun battle began after a woman, who was being held hostage by the militants, was rescued. Troops and police had surrounded her house to rescue her.

The militant group is banned as a terrorist organization by India, Pakistan, the United States and the European Union. A guerrilla war has been going on between militants and the Indian troops stationed in Muslim-majority Kashmir, which is divided into parts administered by India and Pakistan.

The government says more than 45,000 people - including civilians, militants and troops - have died in the region over the past two decades.

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