Two Indian air force commandos among four killed in IHK

HELD SRINAGAR: Two air force commandos and two suspected militants were killed during a gunbattle on Wednesday in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK), the army said, during an upsurge in violence in the disputed region.

The fighting started when soldiers searching for militants cordoned off a neighbourhood in the northern town of Hajin. "It was a difficult operation. Two militants were killed in the encounter. Unfortunately, two air force commandos also died," a police officer said.

The deaths came two days after a leader of freedom fighters was killed in a shootout with government forces in the IHK. Police say at least 160 militants and 59 soldiers or police
have been killed so far this year.