SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Three militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit and a girl have been killed, while a policeman and a boy wounded in a gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The fierce gunfight broke out Wednesday at village Kalaroos of frontier Kupwara district, about 110 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Acting on a specific information, police along with army and paramilitary launched cordon and search operation in Jugtiyal, Hyhama in Kupwara," a police spokesman said.
"During the searches, militants present in the area fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated, thereby triggering a gunfight in which three LeT militants were killed and a policeman wounded."
According to police officials the children were hit by stray bullets far from gunfight site.
"The children (both minors) were wounded after they were hit by stray bullets more than 100 meters away from the gunfight site," the spokesman said. "They were shifted to hospital for treatment where the girl succumbed to her wounds and the boy has been referred to Srinagar hospital."
Police officials said the wounded policeman was also shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment.
Indian army officials said they have recovered three assault rifles and some ammunition from the spot.
The identity of slain militants was being ascertained, police said.
Last week two local militants of LeT and two civilians were killed in a similar stand-off in Pulwama district. While a 15-year-old boy was hit by bullet during protests, another civilian died because of cardiac arrest.
A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfight between militants and Indian troops 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.
