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Seven Killed in Gun Battle in Indian Kashmir
[AnNahar] A fierce shootout killed two soldiers and five suspected murderous Moslems Saturday in Indian-administered Kashmire near the de facto border with Pakistain, army officials said.

The seven died during a heavy exchange of fire in the border village of Marsari, 130 kilometers (80 miles) northwest of the main city of Srinagar, defense front man N. N. Joshi said.

The 16-hour shootout began on Friday when government forces zeroed in on an abandoned house after receiving information about the presence of suspected rebels.

"One more Lion of Islam was killed in the operations, bringing their number up to five," Joshi told AFP.

Another defence front man, S. D. Goswami, earlier said that two soldiers had been killed.

Two other soldiers were maimed and have been taken to a military hospital, according to police.

Kashmire has been divided between India and Pakistain by a heavily militarized Line of Control since the end of British colonial rule in 1947.

Both countries administer parts of the restive Himalayan territory separately but claim it in full.

Since 1989 several rebel groups have been fighting an estimated half a million Indian forces deployed in the region, for independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistain.

Overall violence in the disputed territory has declined sharply during the last decade, but armed encounters between rebels and government forces occur regularly.

Last week eight suspected rebels were killed in different shootouts with Indian government forces in the Kashmire valley, according to the army.

The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians.
Posted by: trailing wife 2016-02-14
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=445330