Five more killed by Indian troops in held Kashmir

By News Desk

OCCUPIED SRINAGAR: Nine suspected fighters and three Indian soldiers were killed in two separate incidents in Indian-held Kashmir, officials said on Sunday, as occupation authorities enforced a lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The disputed territory had already been under a long-running curfew as New Delhi scrapped the Himalayan valley’s semi-autonomous status on August 5 last year.

According to Kashmir Media Service the five men were killed early on Sunday in an ongoing violent operation in the Keran area of Kupwara district. Indian army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia claimed the dead were “armed militants”. The clashes also left three soldiers dead and critically injured several more, he said in a brief statement.

The fighting came within 24 hours of another gun battle between suspected fighters and occupation forces in the southern Kulgam area that left four dead. Police claimed all four were fighters from the local area.

The Kashmir Media Service report identified the four deceased as Sadam Malik, Aijaz Ahmed Naikoo, Shahid Sadiq Malik and Waqar Ahmed in Hardmanguri area of Kulgam district.