Three guerrillas killed in two Kashmir gunfights

Three separatist guerrillas were killed and four security men injured in two separate gun fights between guerrillas and security forces in Kashmir Thursday, police said.

"Three unidentified militants were killed in two separate encounters with police and security forces in Sopore (North Kashmir)," said a press statement issued by police.

"Sopore police, 27 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 9 Para Regiment of the army launched a search operation in the forest area of Cherhaar following specific information about the presence of a group of militants there," it said.

The first contact with the militants occurred Thursday, when militants hiding in the forest fired upon the joint search team triggering a gun fight. “One unidentified militant was killed in the encounter.”

Four security men were also injured in the gun fight which has now ended. Searches were still on in the area, police said.

In another gun fight in an orchard at Mundaji in Batengo village near Sopore town, two unidentified militants were killed.

The gun fight ensued during an operation by Sopore police and 22 RR on a tip-off about militant presence in the area, said a senior police officer.