Militant killed in ongoing gunfight in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A militant was killed Friday evening in an ongoing fierce gunfight that broke out between militants and contingents of Indian police and paramilitary in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The gunfight triggered at village Kangan of Pulwama District, about 38 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir. "A militant was killed in a gunfight this evening," said a senior police official posted in Pulwama. "The operation is under way and all the details will be shared after the gunfight concludes." The gunfight broke out after contingents of police and India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was fired upon in the village. "After our men were targeted, we cordoned off the village and firing is going on," said the official. The gunfight between two sides has created panic in the village. The identity of slain militant was being identified, police said. According to Indian police, they have not suffered any damage in the stand-off. Last year, 73 suspected militants were killed in restive region. A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region. The 2013 saw a 38 percent increase in violence compared to 2012. The violence claimed 204 lives in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir. Of the 204 killed, 48 were civilians, 73 suspected militants, one unidentified and 82 Indian troopers.