Unrest continues in Srinagar

Another hostile encounter between separatist militants and soldiers lead to further unrest in Indian Kashmir.

SRINAGAR: Another hostile encounter between separatist militants and soldiers on Thursday in Srinagar lead to further unrest in Indian Kashmir. Gunfire ensued when Indian troops surrounded a house in the suburbs in which the militants were residing, early Thursday morning.

Taking notice of the raid, the militants holed up inside the residence opened fire and a gun battle ensued, claimed an Indian army spokesman. JS Brar continued that one of the militants who managed to escape to another house in the area made matters worse, as the fighting in the area raged on, despite both houses being cordoned off by officials.

No injuries were reported and  at least 100 civilians were safely evacuated by police and army officials, said Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, Srinagar chief of police.

The insurgency against Indian rule in Muslim-majority Kashmir has left more than 47,000 people dead by official count since it erupted in 1989.

Indian Kashmir has been under rolling curfews and strikes since early June, when a 17-year-old student was killed by a police teargas shell. Since then, a total of 111 protesters and bystanders have died in the region.