Kashmir: Gun battle claims combatants, civilians

By Zahid Rafiq

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) - Amid efforts to lower tension between India and Pakistan over the disputed region, five Indian soldiers, two militants, and a civilian were killed in a three-day gun battle which ended Sunday in the northern part of Indian-administered Kashmir.

The battle started on Friday after Indian forces, acting on a tip, cordoned off a village in Handwara, Jammu and Kashmir.

Police confirmed the killing of two policemen and three paramilitary personnel in the gunfight, including an inspector-rank officer.

Police also said that two militants as yet unidentified were killed.

“This operation posed considerable difficulties to the security forces due to the topography of the area,” police said.

A 21-year-old Kashmiri civilian was also killed in the battle, which followed tension sparked when over 40 Indian soldiers were killed by militants on Feb. 14.

Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.

Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars -- in 1948, 1965 and 1971 -- two of them over Kashmir.