Three Indian soldiers killed in IIOJK gunfight

‘Troops sustained three fatal and three non-fatal casualties,’ says Indian Army spokesperson

Three soldiers were killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) during a gun battle in the disputed Himalayan territory, the army said Thursday.

Two army vehicles were conducting an operation in Rajouri district south of Srinagar, the occupied region’s biggest city, when they were fired upon by separatists, a defence spokesperson told AFP.

“Troops sustained three fatal and three non-fatal casualties,” the spokesperson added.

Army operations were continuing in the area and further details of the incident were “being ascertained”, they said.

The fighting comes just days after India’s top court upheld a 2019 decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to revoke the limited autonomy of the Muslim-majority occupied territory.

Separatist groups have waged an insurgency in IIOJK since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan.

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The conflict has left tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and freedom fighters dead.

Last month, five Indian soldiers and two suspected separatists were killed in the region.