Six Islamic militants, two others killed in Kashmir
China Daily ^ | 2005-06-17 15:53
Indian troops in Kashmir shot dead six Islamic militants, including three infiltrators from the Pakistani-zone of the divided state, while suspected rebels shot dead two people, officials said.
The three militant infiltrators were killed late Thursday during a clash in the Tangdar sector of northern Kupwara district, which borders Pakistan-administered Kashmir, army spokesman Vijay Batra said on Friday.
"The three were asked to surrender but instead opened fire that was returned, killing them on the spot," he said.
Indian troops shot dead three more militants in the southern district of Doda late Thursday in two separate gun battles, a police spokesman said.
In the same district, suspected rebels shot dead a civilian late Thursday, police said, adding that a former rebel, who was leading a normal life after his release from prison, was shot dead in the summer capital Srinagar Friday morning.
The fresh violence comes as moderate separatists returned from a historic two-week tour to Pakistan and its portion of Kashmir on Thursday in a positive mood.
They have said they are willing to reopen dialogue with India on the future of Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both.
Violence in Kashmir has continued despite an 18-month-old peace process between the nuclear-armed rivals.
The neighbours have fought two of their three wars over the region since independence from Britain in 1947. |
