Suspected militant, policeman killed in Kashmir

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) - A suspected militant and a policeman was killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night, police said, in the first clash since the Indian authorities revoked the special status of the state earlier this month.

Speaking to Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency, a police official said the incident took place in Baramulla district, where a sub-inspector was also injured in the incident.

Police identified the deceased officer as Bilal Ahmed, while the slain militant has been identified as Momin Gojri, who was said to be affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba.

According to PTI, the police official said a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and security forces in Ganie-Hamam area.

The official claimed the militants opened fire on the security forces. In the exchange of fire, two policemen sustained injuries, he added.

They were transported to the army hospital, where one of them succumbed to his wounds, he added.

Jammu and Kashmir region has been facing a clampdown since Aug. 5, when the Indian government revoked Article 370 of the Indian constitution which conferred a special status on it. According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of people, mostly political leaders, have been detained or arrested by authorities since the Indian Parliament made the move.

Kashmiri leaders and residents fear the move is an attempt by India to change the demography of the state, where some groups have been fighting Indian rule for either independence or unification with neighboring Pakistan.

India and Pakistan both hold Kashmir in parts and claim it in full. China also controls part of the contested region, but it is India and Pakistan who have fought two wars over Kashmir.