No less than 4 troopers have been killed in a gunfight with suspected militants in Indian-administered Kashmir – the newest in a current spate of assaults by armed insurgents within the disputed area.
Safety forces got here beneath fireplace on Monday night time once they have been finishing up a search operation within the forests of Doda district in Jammu.
Final week 5 troopers have been killed when their automobile was ambushed in one other a part of the area, which is disputed by India and Pakistan.
An armed insurgency in opposition to Indian rule has claimed 1000’s of lives in Kashmir since 1989, however violence has lowered lately.
Nevertheless, the comparatively peaceable Jammu area has seen growing bloodshed in current months. No less than eight assaults have been reported within the area since June.
Final month, 9 individuals died and 33 have been injured after suspected militants fired on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims within the area.
On 8 July, 5 troopers have been killed in an ambush in Kathua district.
Monday night time’s gunfight started when militants allegedly hiding in forests opened fireplace, reviews mentioned. The Indian military mentioned in an announcement that its forces got here beneath fireplace whereas finishing up a search based mostly on intelligence inputs.
5 troopers have been critically injured within the trade of fireside with militants, the military posted on X. 4 of them succumbed to accidents later.
Reinforcements have been rushed to the realm to forestall the attackers from fleeing, officers say.
The Himalayan area of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan for many years. Delhi accuses Islamabad of harbouring militants and disrupting peace within the area, a cost the latter denies.
