SRINAGAR – Two low-ranking police deserters were among four rebels killedovernight in a firefight with government forces in Indian-administeredKashmir, the police and army said Friday.
The former Himalayan kingdom is divided between Pakistan and India. Fordecades, rebel groups have been fighting for independence from Indian ruleor a merger of Kashmir with Pakistan.
The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians.
Soldiers laid siege to a residential area in southern Pulwama district,triggering an exchange of fire with armed militants hiding in a house lateThursday evening.
“One militant was killed in the initial encounter that went on through thenight. Three more were killed during early hours today,” a police officer,speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Friday.
An Indian army spokesman, based in the main city of Srinagar, alsoconfirmed four “terrorists” were killed in the fighting.
“Two were local militants from Jaish-e-Mohammad group and the other twowere identified as SPOs who had gone missing,” the police officer said,referring to the two Special Police Officers.
The officers had deserted, taking their automatic rifles, a day earlier tojoin the rebel ranks.
SPOs are the lowest-ranked officers in the state police.
Paid 6,000 rupees ($85) a month, they are mostly deployed forcounterinsurgency duties and providing personal security for dignitaries.
Another police officer said the two killed former SPOs had gone for a dayof leave to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid, but did not report backto duty on Thursday morning.
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Many SPOs have deserted the police force in the past to join the rebels inthe restive region, including three who were deployed to protect a ministerin the local government.
Pakistan-based JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammad) and rebel groups have been fightingsome 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the disputed territory for decades.
Rivals India and Pakistan have separately administered Kashmir since theend of British colonial rule and Partition of the subcontinent in 1947.
The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours both claim the entire region infull.
Gun battles between anti-India rebels and government forces are frequent inparts of the territory controlled by New Delhi.
This year more than 100 militants have been killed so far and fightersrarely last a few months after joining militant groups.
In recent years New Delhi has repeatedly said soldiers have a free hand inwiping out militancy from Kashmir, but new rebels have been joining in thefight almost as fast as they are killed by Indian forces.
India regularly accuses Pakistan of supporting the rebels, an allegationIslamabad denies. -APP/AFP