NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A militant was killed Tuesday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The gunfight broke out at village Chersoo -- Awantipora in Pulwama district, about 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Today a gunfight broke out between a militant and joint contingent of army and police at village Chersoo here, during which the militant was killed," a police official posted in Awantipora said. "The identity of the slain militant and his group affiliation is being ascertained."
According to police, the gunfight broke out after government forces launched a search operation in the area on specific intelligence information suggesting the presence of militants.
Indian army or police have not suffered any damage in the stand-off.
Gunfights between militants and government forces take place intermittently in the region.
However, over the past five months, a steep decline in gunfights was recorded in the region. Police officials attribute the decrease in gunfights to a partial suspension of communication service in the region.
A guerilla war has been going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989.
Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in its entirety. The two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
