SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Three militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit were killed and a policeman was wounded Saturday in a fierce gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The gunfight between militants and government forces broke out in Tarzoo village of Sopore town, about 52 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Three militants of LeT outfit were killed today in a gunfight with police and army in Jamia Mohalla, Amargarh locality," a police spokesman said.
Police said the search and cordon in the area was launched on specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants.
"The hiding militants opened fire on the joint search party, triggering a gunfight, during which three militants of LeT were eliminated," the spokesman said. "Their identity of slain militants is being ascertained."
Since last week there has been an increase in the gunfights in region.
On Tuesday a top militant commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant outfit Abu Dujana and his local associate were killed in a fierce gunfight in Pulwama district. Two civilians were also killed and over three dozen wounded in government forces firing in the subsequent clashes that broke out to protest militant killings.
A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.
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.
