SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- A fierce gunfight between militants and Indian troops broke out Wednesday in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The gunfight erupted at village Hajin in Bandipora, about 32 km north of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"A gunfight has just begun early morning today between militants and government forces in village Hajin here," a police official posted in Bandipora said. "The army and police contingents cordoned off the area on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants. As the contingents moved closer to the suspected area, it was fired upon, triggering a gunfight."
Police officials suspect two to three militants are holed up in the area.
"Gunfire is going on and people are inside their houses," Asif Ahmad, a local resident, told Xinhua over telephone.
On Monday three militants were killed in a similar gunfight at village Gatipora of Shopian district, south of Srinagar.
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.
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.
