SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- A fierce gunfight between militants and Indian troops broke out Monday evening in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The gunfight erupted at village Batmuran of Pulwama district, about 55 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"A fierce gunfight has triggered just now between militants and government forces in village Batmuran here," a police official posted in Pulwama said. "The army, paramilitary and police contingents cordoned off the area to prevent militants from fleeing away."
According to police, three militants are holed up inside a residential house in the village and they target police and army positions from there.
"Outside the sound of gunfire and blasts is going on. It started just now," Bilal Ahmad, a local resident told Xinhua over telephone. "We have locked ourselves inside our houses."
Police officials said government forces cordoned off the village on specific intelligence inputs suggesting presence of militants.
Last week three militants were killed in a fierce gunfight in Kupwara district.
A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.
