Indian forces shot dead two suspected rebels in India-held
Kashmir in clashes that also killed a young woman, police said Tuesday,
as the deadliest year of the decade in the disputed territory draws to a close.
At
least 210 suspected militants have been killed this year — the most
since 2010 — amid a military campaign to rout armed groups resisting
Indian rule in the divided Himalayan region.
In
addition, 57 civilians and 78 security personnel have also lost their
lives in violence across the conflict-wracked valley, according to
police officials and watchdogs.
In the latest clash, two suspected militants were shot dead
in a firefight that began Monday evening in southern Shopian district,
inspector general of police Munir Ahmed Khan told AFP.
Hundreds
of Kashmiris rushed to the scene chanting anti-India slogans and
hurling stones at the troops in protests that continued raging on
Tuesday morning.
Police opened fire with pellet guns,
hospitalising 12 people. A soldier and a police officer were also
wounded during the clashes.
Police said a young woman was killed in crossfire.
“One
young woman died in the crossfire when one of the militants came out of
a house today (Tuesday) and started firing at the security forces,”
Khan added.
Some witnesses claimed the woman was killed
by police during the demonstrations, not in crossfire, though this could
not be independently verified.
Tensions were already
high in held Kashmir after a taxi driver was gunned down during an army
operation Saturday evening. An official investigation is underway into
his death.
Rebel groups have been fighting since 1989
against the roughly half a million Indian soldiers deployed in the
territory, demanding independence or a merger of the entire disputed
region with Pakistan.
Tens of thousands, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting.
