SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Two militants were killed Tuesday in gunfight with paramilitary troopers in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The gunfight that broke out Monday morning in city's Karan Nagar locality and ended after around 28 hours.
"We have killed both the militants and recovered their bodies, besides two assault rifles from the gunfight site," spokesman of India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Srinagar, Rajesh Yadav told Xinhua.
On Monday a CRPF man was killed, and a policeman wounded fighting these militants.
According to Yadav, on Monday their alert troops inside the paramilitary camp in Karan Nagar foiled a fidayeen (suicide attack) bid from militants. However, the militants took refuge inside an under construction building behind the paramilitary camp.
The stand-off began after a contingent of CRPF came under heavy fire during searches in the area. "The gunfight went on throughout the day on Monday and night as well, with both the sides exchanging fire," a police official said.
Authorities imposed restrictions in various parts of the old city to prevent people from staging protests near the site.
People assembling at gunfight sites in support of militants and attacking government forces with stones has evolved as a new phenomenon of resistance in the region. Despite reprimand from police and army to stay away from gunfight sites, people continue to ignore calls and readily defy restrictions.
Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of majority of residents in Kashmir. Irate residents took to roads and clash with police. The youth throw stones and brickbats on contingents of police and paramilitary, who respond by firing tear smoke shells, pellets and bullets, which often proves fatal.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
