Another gunfight breaks out in Kashmir

SRINAGAR - A gunfight broke out between separatist guerrillas and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Police said troops of 21 Rashtriya Rifles, 1 Para regiment of the Indian Army and local police were fired upon in Zachaldara area of north Kashmir’s Rajwar forests in Kupwara district, 78 km from here.

“Security forces moved in when reports of a group of four to five militants hiding in the forest area of Zachaldara (Rajwar) were received,” a police officer said.

“The security personnel came under heavy automatic gunfire from the hiding militants thus triggering a gunfight which is still on in the area,” the police officer added.

In an exclusive interview to IANS, Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai had said that since January this year there had been 60 infiltration attempts by guerrillas, 35 gun battles between security forces and the guerrillas besides 40 other militancy-related incidents.

He also ruled out any troop reduction from Kashmir for further six months because of the heightened guerrilla activities here.