Eight militants killed in two Kashmir gun fights

SRINAGAR - Eight militants were killed Friday in two fierce gunfights in Kashmir, an official said.

A defence spokesman here said alert army troops guarding the line of control (LoC) in Machil sector in north Kashmir Kupwara district foiled an infiltration bid Friday.

Troops detected a group of militants trying to infiltrate to this side of the LoC in Machil sector today. The group was surrounded and challenged upon which they opened fire, triggering a gunfight at the end of which five infiltrators were killed, Lt. Col. J.S. Brar said.

He said searches are still continuing in the area.

In another incident, three militants and a policeman were killed in a daylong fierce encounter in Akhal village of north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Troops and police jointly surrounded a house in the village on specific information about the presence of a group of militants inside it in Akhal village.

The holed up militants were challenged to surrender. They opened fire triggering a gunfight which has ended. Bodies of three militants were recovered from the encounter site, he added.

The spokesman said a local policeman was also killed in the gunfight.

The spokesman said 42 “well armed and trained, both local and foreign terrorists, have been eliminated in the ongoing counter terrorism operations conducted by the army in September 2010.

Meanwhile, four protesters were Friday wounded in post-Friday prayer clashes in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town and south Kashmir town of Anantnag.

A police spokesman here said security forces had to open fire to quell protestors in Baramulla and Anantnag towns Friday afternoon as mobs indulged in heavy stone pelting.

The injured were evacuated to hospital for treatment.

Curfew was relaxed in the evening in phases in the capital city to enable people to buy essential commodities.