Three militants killed in Kashmir firing

Three militants were killed in a night-long exchange of gunfire with the security forces in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, an officer said Tuesday.

Inspector General of Police Abdul Ghani Mir told IANS that security forces had killed three guerrillas in Shetpora (Rajwar) village in Kupwara district, 135 km from here, where the gunfight started Monday evening.

The bodies of the slain militants were recovered from the debris of the house which was destroyed in the heavy exchange of gunfire.

Troops of the counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group of the state police had surrounded a house in Shetpora village following information about the presence of three guerrillas inside.

"When the security forces challenged the hiding militants, they started indiscriminate firing, triggering an encounter which ended this (Tuesday) morning.

"Firing exchanges stopped this (Tuesday) morning after which the bodies of the slain militants were recovered," a senior army officer said.

--Indo-Asian news Service

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