Rebels kill 1 Indian soldier, wound 3 in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India – Indian security forces put an outskirt of Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, under security lockdown as they battled two rebels who took shelter in a school building after killing one paramilitary officer and wounding another soldier.

Rajesh Yadav, an Indian paramilitary force spokesman, said the insurgents attacked a paramilitary patrol vehicle with gunfire on a key highway connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India on Saturday. They were killed in gunbattles that raged until late Sunday.

Yadav said two Indian army commandos also were wounded in exchange of gunfire on Sunday.

Indian forces cordoned off a 10-kilometre (6-mile) area after local residents clashed with government forces on Saturday to help the insurgents escape the trap. It was reopened for traffic later Sunday.

Rebel groups have been fighting since 1989 for Kashmir’s independence or merger with neighbouring Pakistan.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, a charge Islamabad denies.