Indian army kills four suspected militants in held Kashmir
This was the second major attack on the Indian army in the last week.
SRINAGAR (Reuters) - The Indian army killed four suspected militants during a sixteen-hour gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir region that ended late on Sunday, foiling an attack on a military base, police said.
The fighting erupted near the border town of Tangdhar after the men were spotted approaching the base and then took shelter in two homes, said a police officer, who asked not to be identified because he is not authorised to discuss the matter.
The army fired mortars and machine guns at the buildings and airlifted 40 soldiers from an elite commando unit to battle the men, the officer said. The army is searching for two militants who may have escaped, he said.
"There were multiple blasts in these two houses as the militants were carrying a large quantity of ammunition that went off in the army operation," the officer said.
Senior police official Garib Dass confirmed that the four had been killed in the clash.
This was the second major attack on the Indian army in the last week after three soldiers were shot dead by militants.
Militants in Kashmir also shot dead two men and threatened to kill employees working for mobile phone companies in the last week.
