Guerrilla killed in Kashmir gunfight

Security forces Tuesday killed a separatist guerrilla in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district and recovered an AK-47 assault rifle from his possession, police here said.

“Troopers of (counter-insurgency force) 6 Rashtriya Rifles and state police cordoned off an area of Zachaldara forests in Kupwara district following reports about the presence of militants there,” a police officer told IANS.

“When asked to surrender, the hiding militants opened fire on the security forces, triggering a gunfight which has now ended. One militant has been killed in the gunfight. One AK-47 rifle has been recovered from the possession of the slain militant whose exact identity is being established. Searches are still on in the area,” the officer said.