At least four suspected Kashmiri fighters were martyred and an Indian army soldier was killed in three separate gun-battles in Indian occupied Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.
Indian Police claimed that the suspects were killed overnight as fighting broke out after Indian government forces cordoned off the forested village of Kellar in southern Kashmir.
Thousands on Tuesday participated in funerals for the three fighters, chanting slogans including “We want freedom” and “Go India, go back.”
The villagers also chanted slogans eulogising fighters and hailing Pakistan
Earlier on Monday, Indian police said troops killed a top commander in the northwestern Handwara area. A police statement described the slain fighter as chief of operations of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
It said he was the mastermind of several attacks by the group recently, including last week’s strike by freedom fighters after they stormed a paramilitary camp near Srinagar’s airport. One paramilitary officer and three fighters were martyred in that fighting.
The Indian army said a soldier was killed after gunmen fired at a patrol party in the Budgam area on Monday.
