SRINAGAR: The army killed six rebels during a two-day gunbattle in Kashmir which was believed to be an attempt by militants to disrupt elections in the region, a spokesman said yesterday.
An Indian soldier was also killed in the fighting which started on Tuesday when militants crossed the heavily fortified border with Pakistan.
“A junior commissioned officer and six infiltrators were killed in the operation, three of them yesterday,” army spokesman S D Goswami said.
Four other soldiers received minor injuries during the battle that has now ended in the snowy and mountainous Naugam sector, 100 kilometres from Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar, he said.
The army said the battle was fought at an altitude of more than 4,200 metres “with (the) likely aim of terrorists to disrupt elections” which are ongoing in the region.
“A major infiltration bid foiled by Army,” the army also tweeted. “Terrorists equipped with latest winter clothing and accessories.”
Another attack yesterday injured five policemen and a civilian.
Militants threw a grenade at a paramilitary police patrol in the village of Puhu in Pulwama district, 50 kilometres south of Srinagar, a local police officer said on condition of anonymity.
Four paramilitary personnel, another policeman and a civilian were hurt.
Voting took place on Tuesday in the tense Muslim-majority region for the staggered state election.
AFP
