SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A gunfight between militants and Indian troops broke out on Monday in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The gunfight erupted at village Gatipora of Shopian district, about 55 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"A gunfight has just begun between militants and government forces in village Gatipora here," a police official said. " The army and police contingents cordoned off the area this morning 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.
"We are hearing gunfire sound," Abdul Rashid, a local resident told Xinhua over telephone.
Early in the morning a junior commissioned officer of the Indian army was killed in a gunfight with militants in Budgam district.
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.
