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Three Lashkar Militants Killed in Kashmir Gunfight

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, July 1: Three militants owing allegiance to Pakistan based militant group, Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed in a fierce gunfight with Indian soldiers in the mountainous Doda region of Kashmir.

A senior police officer told NewsBlaze that that on a tip-off about the movement of militants in Kulhand area of Doda district, a joint team of police, paramilitary and army launched a combing operation in the area on Wednesday evening.

He said while the soldiers were conducting searches, they came under a volume of fire from the militants hiding in the area. "The fire was returned by the soldiers, triggering an encounter. In the ensuing gunfight, which lasted for more than four hours, three Lashkar militants were killed," he said.

The slain militants were identified as Bilal, Abu Zarar and Zafarullah.

The soldiers, according to the police officer, did not suffer any casualty during the gunfight.

The search operation was still going on when reports last came in.

Police have termed the killing of the militants as a major blow to the militant outfit in Doda.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.