SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) --Two militants were killed Wednesday in a gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The gunfight broke out at village Drusu Watergam of Baramulla district, about 70 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Two militants were killed in an operation launched by a joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) of police and Indian army in Drusu Watergam near Rafiabad," an army official said. "We have recovered two assault rifles from the slain militants."
Police officials said the area was cordoned off following intelligence inputs regarding presence of militants.
"As the cordon was being tightened militants holed up in the area fired upon us, which was retaliated resulting into a gunfight," a senior police official said.
According to officials, the police and army have not suffered any damage in the stand-off.
The identity of the slain militants was being ascertained, officials said.
Local media quoted a police officer saying the identity of the slain militants could not be established, but they apparently seem to be foreigners.
During the past five days two local militants were killed in two different gunfights in Shopian district.
Earlier in the morning, government forces defused an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected militants on a roadside in Handwara of Kupwara district. According to police timely detection of the bomb has averted major tragedy on the road.
Meanwhile, the police has recovered the bullet-riddled body of a local resident in Pattan area of Baramulla.
A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.
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.
