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Militants die in Kashmir battle | Militants die in Kashmir battle |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Security forces stormed a hotel in Indian-administered Kashmir killing two gunmen and ending a stand-off that lasted almost 24 hours, officials say. | |
The gunmen launched their grenade and gun attack in Srinagar on Wednesday killing a civilian and a policeman. | The gunmen launched their grenade and gun attack in Srinagar on Wednesday killing a civilian and a policeman. |
They subsequently entered a hotel in the city's Lal Chowk area and exchanged fire with security forces. | They subsequently entered a hotel in the city's Lal Chowk area and exchanged fire with security forces. |
This is the first major militant attack in Srinagar in two years. Violence there has declined in recent years. | |
Officials said that one of the gunmen belonged to the banned Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. | |
But there has been no claim of responsibility for the attack so far. | But there has been no claim of responsibility for the attack so far. |
The police chief of Jammu and Kashmir state Kuldeep Khoda told reporters that the "operation was over" with the killing of the two militants. | The police chief of Jammu and Kashmir state Kuldeep Khoda told reporters that the "operation was over" with the killing of the two militants. |
He said the security forces had killed the two gunmen - and that the second one was shot while trying to escape the hotel building after setting fire to it. | He said the security forces had killed the two gunmen - and that the second one was shot while trying to escape the hotel building after setting fire to it. |
"We are trying to find out whether there are any more terrorists inside. We will be launching combing operations in the area soon," Mr Khoda said. | |
He said security forces had evacuated a number of people from the area since the stand-off began on Wednesday afternoon. | He said security forces had evacuated a number of people from the area since the stand-off began on Wednesday afternoon. |
The attack took place in the city's historic Lal Chowk or Red Square area. | The attack took place in the city's historic Lal Chowk or Red Square area. |
The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says that there was a heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and the gunmen early on Thursday morning as the stand-off continued. | The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says that there was a heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and the gunmen early on Thursday morning as the stand-off continued. |
The security forces also rescued 10 people from a neighbouring hotel in what is a crowded business district in the city, our correspondent says. | The security forces also rescued 10 people from a neighbouring hotel in what is a crowded business district in the city, our correspondent says. |
India and Pakistan declared a ceasefire in 2004, but suspended peace talks after the 2008 Mumbai (Bombay) attacks, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants. | India and Pakistan declared a ceasefire in 2004, but suspended peace talks after the 2008 Mumbai (Bombay) attacks, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants. |
Separately, at least three Pakistani soldiers were killed and 11 injured in a suicide bombing outside an army barracks in Pakistani-administered Kashmir on Wednesday. | Separately, at least three Pakistani soldiers were killed and 11 injured in a suicide bombing outside an army barracks in Pakistani-administered Kashmir on Wednesday. |
No group has claimed the attack near the town of Rawalakot. It follows a number of recent attacks on Shia Muslims and the security forces. | No group has claimed the attack near the town of Rawalakot. It follows a number of recent attacks on Shia Muslims and the security forces. |