SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, June 8 (Xinhua) -- At least six militants and an Indian army trooper were killed in two separate gunfights near Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, officials said Thursday.
The gunfights, according to Indian army officials, broke out in Nowgam and Machil sectors of frontier Kupwara district, northwest of Srinagar city.
According to Indian army, at both the sectors, militants were trying to infiltrate deep inside Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Today our alert troops foiled another infiltration bid in Nowgam sector by killing three militants," an Indian army spokesman told Xinhua. "While fighting militants in the sector, one of our troopers was also martyred during the gunfight."
According to the spokesman, the operation was going on in the area until last reports came in.
Reports said army has rushed additional reinforcements to the area and intensified search operations.
Meanwhile, in a separate gunfight in Machil sector, army said it killed three militants.
"Last evening, three militants were killed in Machil sector while they were attempting to infiltrate deep inside our territory," a spokesman said. "While fighting the militants in the sector our side didn't suffered any damage."
From both the sites, army said it recovered six assault rifles and ammunition belonging to the slain militants.
Last month, six militants were killed in Rampur sector of frontier Uri in the adjacent Baramulla district.
The situation along LoC is tense since the beginning of May. Troops of India and Pakistan are currently at loggerheads with each other, especially along LoC and international border (IB) in Kashmir. Several cease-fire violations were reported on both sides of LoC.
