SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- At least two Indian army troopers were killed and three others wounded in an ongoing fierce gunfight with militants in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Sunday.
The gunfight erupted Saturday at Awneera village of Shopian district, about 60 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Two army personnel were killed and three others wounded in an ongoing encounter in Awneera village here," a police official posted in Shopian said.
"The gunfight is continuing in the area and so far there is no information about militant deaths in the stand-off."
The wounded troopers were evacuated to the military base hospital in Srinagar.
According to the official, fresh firing has started in the area.
The gunfight triggered after contingents of Indian troops and police encircled the area on intelligence information suggesting presence of militants.
Police officials suspect two to three militants are holed up in the area.
Locals said they have been hearing intermittent gunshots and bursts since Saturday evening.
Clashes broke out in the village Saturday evening with youth hitting roads and throwing brickbats on government forces, apparently in a bid to help militants break the cordon.
Meanwhile in a separate gunfight in Hajin village of Bandipora, north of Srinagar, two policemen were wounded after militants fire upon them during a search operation, a police spokesman said.
A guerilla 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.
