2 soldiers, 2 militants killed in Kashmir
srinagar — Two Indian soldiers and two rebels were killed in armed clashes on Thursday, officials said, in another day of bloodshed in Indian-administered Kashmir where tensions are high following the death of a prominent militant.
The rebels were killed in Kulgam, south of Srinagar in Indianadministered Kashmir, when they walked into an ambush laid by Indian soldiers.
“It was a deliberate and swift operation,” an army officer said.
In a separate incident, two Indian troops were killed and another injured in a shootout with militants in Shopian district, the officer said on condition of anonymity. The soldiers came under fire as they surrounded a house suspected of harbouring militants, and were evacuated from the scene. It was not clear if the rebels inside evaded capture.
“Three soldiers were evacuated by air but two of them died before reaching a military hospital,” a police officer said.
The violence comes just days after Indian forces killed top militant commander Abu Dujana, who headed the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group in Kashmir. His death sparked protests and violent clashes across Kashmir, in which two civilians, including a teenage student, were killed.
Schools and colleges remained shut on Thursday amid fears of further protests against Indian rule. — AFP