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Gunbattle in Kashmir ends; 2 suspected rebels killed

Gunbattle in Kashmir ends; 2 suspected rebels killed

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Indian police and paramilitary soldiers petrol a deserted street during a raid to arrest suspected protesters on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on November 2, 2016. Photo: AP

SRINAGAR: Police say a 42-hour gunbattle has ended in Indian-controlled Kashmir and two suspected rebels were killed in the fighting, which triggered massive anti-India protests in the disputed region.

Police said soldiers on Friday recovered the bodies of the two suspected militants from the debris of a destroyed house in southern Arwani village. On Thursday, a young man was killed and dozens of others were injured when government forces fired bullets, shotgun pellets and tear gas to disperse rock-throwing protesters who tried to help the trapped rebels escape. Police and soldiers had cordoned off Arwani on Tuesday evening, triggering a gunbattle with trapped militants in the village. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both. Most people in the Indian-controlled portion favor independence or a merger with Pakistan.