SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) group were killed Thursday night by Indian police and paramilitary troopers in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The contingent had launched an ambush against the militants at Aab-Ghar Tral of Pulwama district, about 38 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
"This evening a joint party of Central Reserve Police Force ( CRPF) and police were on an area domination exercise in Tral, during which they had laid down a barricade following inputs about movement of militants in the area," Nalin Prabhat, a senior officer of paramilitary CRPF told Xinhua.
"No sooner they tried to stop a sumo vehicle, the men inside it fired upon the contingent, evoking a retaliation from them and in the standoff three men were killed."
According to Prabhat, the CRPF and policemen did not suffered any casualties in the brief exchange of fire.
Reports said five militants were in the vehicle and two others managed to escape.
"There is possibility that some people from inside the vehicle might have escaped during the exchange in the cover of darkness," Prabhat said.
A police spokesman in Srinagar said two assault rifles, a pistol and some ammunition were seized from the spot.
The slain militants have been identified as LeT members, who are accused of carrying out a terror attack on India's financial capital of Mumbai in 2008, killing 166 people.
The incident came after the Indian election commission announced local elections in the restive region from Nov. 25 to Dec. 20.
India has send additional paramilitary troops to tighten security during the upcoming five-phase elections.
Militants challenging New Delhi's rule in Indian-controlled Kashmir have been fighting guerrilla war with the Indian troops since 1989.
Last week, two militants were killed and two Indian army troopers and a paramilitary trooper were wounded in a gunfight.
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