India Kashmir – Srinagar, April 30: The Indian army Friday claimed that three well armed militants were shot dead near Line of Control (the defacto border) while they tried to sneak into Indian Kashmir from Pakistani controlled Kashmir.

The heavily militarised 760-kilometer LoC divides Kashmir between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, who both claim the whole territory and have fought two wars over it.

While giving details, Indian army spokesman in Srinagar, Lt Col J S Brar said, “At around 0300 hours today, army men deployed on the Line of Control noticed that three militants were trying to cross over to this side of Kashmir”.

He said they were challenged and asked to surrender. “They, however, turned down the offer and fired from automatic weapons towards the soldiers. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gunfight, which continued for some hours, three well armed militants were killed,” he said.

Stating that identifying of the slain militants and the outfit to which they owe allegiance was being ascertained, Brar said, “Five AK assault rifles a pistol and some ammunition were recovered from the encounter site,” he said.

The army spokesman said the militants tried to use the bad weather conditions to sneak into Kashmir. “But their attempt to sneak into Kashmir and cause disturbances were foiled by the soldiers,” he said.

Another army official said the soldiers deployed along the defacto border in Kashmir have been placed on maximum alert to thwart any infiltration attempts by militants. “Since the snow has begun to melt in the upper reaches and mountain ridges connecting this part of Kashmir with Pakistani controlled Kashmir, we are expecting more infiltration attempts in the coming days. We are ready to foil every such attempt,” he said.

The militancy against Indian rule since 1989 has claimed more than 47,000 lives by the official count.

However, according to separatists, more than double the persons have been killed in the over-two decade long violence.

NastionalTurk India Kashmir – Faiz Ahmad

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