Clashes in Kashmir after 2 militants killed

AFP, SRINAGAR: Thousands of protesters clashed with police in Indian Kashmir Thursday after two militants were killed in a gun battle with government forces, the army and witnesses said. Protesters torched a police armoured vehicle as masked militants fired automatic rifles into the air in honour of the dead men, a police officer at the scene told AFP on condition of anonymity. The gun battle broke out early Thursday morning in Shopian, 45 kilometres (28 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar. “The militants fired on a patrol party. In retaliation both were eliminated,” army spokesman, Colonel N.N. Joshi told AFP. The two militants were members of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest local rebel group operating in Kashmir.

Clashes in Kashmir after 2 militants killed

AFP, SRINAGAR: Thousands of protesters clashed with police in Indian Kashmir Thursday after two militants were killed in a gun battle with government forces, the army and witnesses said. Protesters torched a police armoured vehicle as masked militants fired automatic rifles into the air in honour of the dead men, a police officer at the scene told AFP on condition of anonymity. The gun battle broke out early Thursday morning in Shopian, 45 kilometres (28 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar. The militants fired on a patrol party. In retaliation both were eliminated, army spokesman, Colonel N.N. Joshi told AFP. The two militants were members of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest local rebel group operating in Kashmir.