Three suspected rebels and a civilian were killed in a gun battle Saturday in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said, the first in the restive region’s main city this year. Since last year gun battles between government forces and militants seeking an end to Indian rule in Kashmir have become more frequent, in a region divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both. This year the fighting has left a total of 110 dead, according to officials, with 20 civilians, 28 security forces personnel and 62 militants estimated to have died. On Saturday hundreds of residents hit the streets near the site of the firefight, shouting slogans of freedom from Indian rule, witnesses said. India has deployed more than 500,000 soldiers to tackle the rising militancy and increasing civilian support for the rebels.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 05, 2018 09:22 UTC