SRINAGAR: A fierce gunbattle in Indian-occupied Kashmir left three suspected rebels and two Indian army soldiers dead, officials said Saturday.
The fighting began late Friday after Indian troops and police surrounded Karewa Malino, a village about 55 kilometers (35 miles) south of Indian Kashmir´s main city of Srinagar, and launched a search for suspected militants there, said paramilitary officer Nalin Prabhat.
Prabhat said the exchange of fire stopped during the night after two militants and two soldiers, including an Indian army officer, were killed.
However, fighting re-erupted Saturday morning, and a third militant was killed. A residential house in which the militants were trapped was destroyed in the fighting.
A police officer, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said the army officer and another soldier were killed after a militant rose from the debris of the destroyed house and fired on the advancing troops.
There was no statement immediately from any of the rebel groups fighting against Indian rule. There are frequent bouts of violence during the warmer months as anti-India rebels step up demands for independence or merger with Pakistan.
About 68,000 people have been killed since 1989 in the conflict. While the armed rebellion has largely been suppressed, anti-India resentment still runs deep.
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