Indian forces kill 3 militants in Kashmir's main city
22 June, 2020
Three militants were killed in a shootout with Indian government forces in the heart of Kashmir's key city Srinagar, law enforcement said on Sunday (Jun 21), two times after eight rebels passed away in another gun battle.
New Delhi has been stepping up counter-insurgency efforts on the disputed territory because the nationwide coronavirus lockdown was imposed on late March.
The militants were killed in a firefight in the Zoonimar section of the densely populated old city of Srinagar, a officer who asked to stay anonymous told AFP.
One home was destroyed during the clash.
Indian-administered Kashmir has been in turmoil since previous August, when New Delhi revoked its semi-autonomous status and imposed a communications blackout which has not been totally lifted.
Pakistan criticised the transformation in Kashmir's status, and there have been consistent exchanges of fire over the heavily militarised border between your nuclear-armed rivals.
On Sunday, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained it had summoned the Indian charge d'affaires "to join up Pakistan's strong protest over the ceasefire violations" that, it said, led to the loss of life of a teenage resident on Saturday. Two additional civilians including a child were critically hurt, the ministry explained.
The clash in Srinagar was the second such face in the old city and brought the death toll of alleged militants to a lot more than 100 this year.
Just over per month back, the son of a high separatist innovator and his associate were killed in the city.
The May incident - a day-long firefight that saw 15 homes inflated by law enforcement and soldiers - was the first armed face between rebels and government forces in Srinagar in 2 yrs.
Rebel groups have fought for many years for the region's independence or perhaps it is merger with Pakistan, plus they enjoy broad popular support.
The fighting has kept tens of thousands lifeless, mostly civilians, since 1989.
India has a lot more than 500,000 troops stationed in Kashmir, a good Himalayan territory also claimed by Pakistan.
The countries have fought two of their three wars since independence over the spot.
India regularly blames Pakistan for arming and training rebels before sending them across the border, charges that Islamabad denies.
New Delhi also offers a frontier dispute with neighbouring Nepal and tensions with China that the other day left 20 Indians lifeless after a attack with nail-studded batons, rocks and fists. There were also an unknown quantity of Chinese casualties.
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