Violence lingers as militants kill father, son in Indian-controlled Kashmir

 Suspected militants shot dead a father-son duo in Indian- controlled Kashmir, officials said Saturday.

The killings took place Friday night in Bawan-Rajwar of Handwara area in district Kupwara, 100 km northwest of Srinagar city.

"Militants last night entered inside a house and fired indiscriminately on the inmates that resulted in the killing of a person and his son,"said a police spokesman.

The slain persons were identified as 50-year-old Ghulam Rasool Mir and his 29-year-old son Manzoor Ahmad Mir. The junior Mir was a teacher.

Police has registered a case and rushed in their teams to the area to arrest assailants.

So far, no militant outfit has claimed responsibility of these killings.

The killings have created a panic in the area.

Militants in the region usually target families and individuals for their possible links with police and defence agencies.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989.

During the last three days six militants were killed in three separate gunfights with Indian army and police in the region.

Two militants were killed by Indian army and Police on Friday in a fierce gunfight in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The gunfight broke out Friday morning in village Nowpora, Sopore of district Baramulla, 55 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Officials said the gunfight broke out after contingents of army and police cordoned the area on specific intelligence inputs suggesting presence of militants.

"Two militants were gunned down in Sopore today (Friday)," said a police official. "The gunfight triggered after militants fired contingents carrying out searches in the area."

The identity of slain militants is being ascertained.

On Thursday evening two militants including a divisional commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant outfit were killed in a similar gunfight in village Kellar of district Shopian, 65 km south of Srinagar.

This is the fourth straight day of gunfights in the restive region.

Police and defense officials maintain most of the times the operations triggering gunfights are carried out on prior information about presence of militants in specific areas.

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