People shout as they participate in the funeral of a militant in Malikgund village, some 65km south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 4, 2018. Five militants and a civilian were killed Saturday in a fierce gunfight and subsequent clashes in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)?
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Five militants were killed on Saturday in an ongoing fierce gunfight with contingents of government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The gunfight broke out Friday night in village Kiloora of Shopian district, about 57 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"In a fierce gunfight in Shopian, five militants have been killed," Indian army spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia told Xinhua. "One militant was killed during night and four others were killed in the morning during the fresh exchange of fire."
According to police, the militants holed up in a house inside an orchard fired upon the contingents of police and army.
The area was cordoned off on specific intelligence inputs suggesting presence of militants, police said.
Officials said Indian army and police have not suffered any casualties in the stand-off.
The identity of slain militants was being ascertained. However, police said they were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba.
"The search operation is still underway in the area," a police official said.
Two militants and an Indian army trooper were killed on Friday in a similar gunfight in Sopore of Baramulla district.
Militant groups opposing New Delhi's rule have been engaged in a guerrilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently.
