Five soldiers, two militants killed in Kashmir
Monday, 23 March 2009
SRINAGAR, India, Mar 22 (AFP): Five Indian soldiers and two Muslim rebels were killed in a gunbattle in Kashmir Sunday, police said, a day after Pakistani and Indian troops traded fire across the de facto border.
The deaths came during some of the fiercest fighting for months and follow Saturday's cross-border firing that left one Indian soldier dead.
The fighting Sunday erupted in northern Kupwara district as Indian troops launched a search operation in thick forest.
"As the troops moved in, militants opened fire killing five soldiers, including an officer," a police officer said, adding two militants had died in retaliatory firing.
"The fighting is going still going on," he said, adding army reinforcements have been rushed to the area.
The deaths came during some of the fiercest fighting for months and follow Saturday's cross-border firing that left one Indian soldier dead.
The fighting Sunday erupted in northern Kupwara district as Indian troops launched a search operation in thick forest.
"As the troops moved in, militants opened fire killing five soldiers, including an officer," a police officer said, adding two militants had died in retaliatory firing.
"The fighting is going still going on," he said, adding army reinforcements have been rushed to the area.